Is this staged or real? When Economics and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) speaks publicly in a rage, as he did this week because of the bill to ban new oil and gas heating systems, then this question arises. Like few other politicians, Habeck knows how to use images and words for himself. His professionally unprofessional explanatory videos on energy policy in times of war triggered delight even among political opponents last year.

But the situation now is different. Habeck is visibly under pressure. Not only that of millions of homeowners, who are to begin the "heat turnaround" in just nine months, at least according to the controversial draft. Habeck is also getting a lot of pressure from his party, which has been feeling for some time that its plans in the traffic light coalition are bouncing off an invisible red-yellow ribbon.

He also has to prevail against Baerbock

On the one hand, this explains the letter in which Habeck wrote in February to the "dear colleague" Finance Minister that instead of calling for savings, he should mobilize more revenue for the budget – and green billion-euro projects such as basic child protection. Which the FDP man rejected as formally as with relish.

The fact that Habeck's complaint about the pierced heating bill came during the parliamentary group meeting of the Greens should also not be a coincidence. After the construction of liquefied natural gas terminals and the ramp-up of coal-fired power plants, the party wants to set an example for climate protection, at least in the building sector.

Habeck likes to say how indifferent he is to popularity ratings. But the fact that his flagship discipline, communication, has slipped away so often in recent times testifies to nervousness. It is an open secret that Habeck would like to be chancellor in the next government.

But the way there is anything but easy: With just a little bit of climate protection, he will not prevail within the party as a top candidate against Annalena Baerbock. With too much climate protection in too short a time, however, the Greens will not find a majority in society.