German coalition reaches heating law compromise after rift

Germany’s federal coalition on Tuesday announced a compromise deal to alter draft legislation that appears to defuse the latest policy dispute within the three-party alliance.

It follows emergency negotiations on Tuesday between leading figures from all three governing parties, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the Social Democrats, his deputy Robert Habeck of the Greens, and Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the FDP.

The compromise will involve providing homeowners more time to convert from oil or gas heating to ensue they are not overburdened financially, and also to try to ensure renters will not face cost increases they can’t immediately bear.