German Court Delays Vote on Controversial Bill to Phase Out Gas Heat Systems
- Legislation would outlaw installing new fossil-fuel boilers
- Bill is key to Germany’s drive to meet its emissions goals
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Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s ruling coalition suffered an embarrassing blow over key climate legislation after Germany’s top court stopped lawmakers from voting this week on a controversial ban on fossil fuel heating systems.
In an unprecedented intervention in the legislative process, the Federal Constitutional Court ruled that lawmakers in the lower house of parliament must be given more time to assess the complex plans. The decision delays the passage of the contentious legislation, which exposed fractures in Scholz’s three-party alliance and contributed to declining approval ratings.