Despite the energy crisis, the lights in the Chancellery don’t go out completely at night – that’s causing criticism. For reasons of safety, especially traffic safety, the exterior lighting cannot be switched off completely, a government spokesman said on Friday evening when asked. However, the outdoor and indoor lighting is reduced at night.
Opposition politicians consider this to be a pretense. “Are they really afraid that a car driver will overlook the Federal Chancellery and drive in there? That would have to be explained to me at least seriously,” said the left-wing faction’s economic policy spokesman, Christian Leye, of the “Welt am Sonntag”. The whole thing tastes like double standards. Criticism also came from the Union. “It’s part of setting a good example yourself,” said CDU MP Carsten Müller of the newspaper.
On September 1st, the cabinet decided on new energy-saving targets. Among other things, the lighting of public buildings and monuments must be switched off for purely aesthetic or representative reasons.
Energy Saving Ordinance
