BERLIN. The massive police operation was launched after a dossier containing a suspicious white powder arrived at the office of German Finance Minister and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck. The discovery of a package sent to the Greens’ office in the port of Flensburg in the north of the country prompted the evacuation of a police station in the city center. Workers delivered the suspicious file to the police station shortly after noon on Wednesday after finding the white powder. The fire department was immediately called and the surrounding area was evacuated. As of yesterday evening, laboratory analyzes of the dust had not been released to the public, although the possibility that it contained dangerous chemicals or radioactive substances was quickly ruled out.

Hambeck was one of the most popular ministers at the beginning of the tripartite coalition government in Berlin. However, in recent times, especially after a corruption scandal that led to the dismissal of a trusted deputy minister on charges of nepotism, his popularity has been declining. Since January, environmental activists have begun to accuse the Greens in the government of betrayal. One of Hambeck’s offices was occupied by protesting citizens who expressed their support for those who oppose the demolition of the small village of Lycerath in western Germany in order to expand a nearby coal mine. The economy minister was the man who took over the energy transition due to the country’s disconnection from Russian natural gas following the invasion of Ukraine. At the beginning of the Russian operations, he successfully undertook to explain to German public opinion the sacrifices that must be made so that the country could cover its energy needs, especially in winter, and not plunge into darkness. But as it turned out a few days ago, his deputy and close associate Patrick Greichen facilitated the appointment of his best man to the state energy agency (Dena), while entrusting an important task to his sister. And although Habek insisted on his cover, Greichen was forced to resign after a lot of publications and parliamentary questions.

However, the problems for the activities of the Vice-Chancellor in the government did not end there. The heating bill, the cornerstone of the Greens’ agenda, was due to be debated in the German parliament this week. According to the proposal, 65% of new heating systems would have to come from renewable energy sources, effectively meaning a ban on natural gas burners from 2024. However, Treasury Secretary Christian Lindner’s Liberal Democrats refused to table the bill. causing Habek’s wrath. The Liberal Democrats’ main argument is that the bill needs further work.