Overview

• Robert Habeck, 55, confirmed his departure effective 1 September after signaling his decision in a television interview with Markus Lanz.
• Wolfgang Schmidt, the former head of the Chancellery, credited Habeck’s 2022 crisis management and an LNG arrangement with Qatar with helping Germany avoid a harsh winter after Russian gas cuts.
• Several commentators praised his plain-spoken, explanatory style, arguing that his willingness to lay out trade-offs distinguished him across party lines.
• Critical voices, including a FAZ column, welcomed his exit and questioned his judgment, citing his rhetoric as evidence of poor political instincts.
• A final public spat loomed large in the coverage after Habeck described Markus Söder’s public sausage-eating as “fetischhaftes Wurstgefresse,” a remark that drew sharp rebukes.