Prices: Loud demands for comprehensive relief

Before a top round of the traffic light government, the demands for further relief of the citizens because of the energy crisis and rising prices are getting louder. SPD and FDP criticized Economics Minister Robert Habeck from the coalition partner Greens.

FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai demanded from Habeck a correction of the gas levy, which should serve to support large energy importers in need, but is a “wrong design”. SPD leader Lars Klingbeil accused Habeck of “technical errors” and called for a policy with substance instead of “nice words”.

Because of the sharp rise in energy prices and many consumer goods, the federal government is working on another relief package. On Tuesday and Wednesday she will advise at a cabinet retreat in the guest house Schloss Meseberg north of Berlin. According to information from the coalition parties, new relief steps are to be presented “soon” (Green Party leader Ricarda Lang) or “in a few days” (SPD Secretary General Kevin Kühnert).

The SPD parliamentary group leadership has written a draft for a parliamentary group meeting on Thursday and Friday. The paper, which was first reported by the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, is available from the German Press Agency. It provides for direct payments, a price brake for basic energy needs and a nationwide 49-euro ticket.

Various proposals and demands have recently been circulating in the public debate:

energy flat rate

In September, working people can look forward to a one-time lump sum of 300 euros from the federal government, which is paid out by the employer. The amount is taxable. The SPD draft again provides for such direct payments for people with low and middle incomes, families, pensioners, students, trainees and recipients of unemployment benefits. The Ministry of Finance is to draw up a proposal for this. IG Metall and Verdi have spoken out in favor of such a performance. Verdi boss Frank Werneke suggested 500 euros in the “Rheinische Post”. The chairman of the opposition CDU, Friedrich Merz, told the “Focus”: “1,000 euros in energy money for incomes in the lower third would make more sense than 300 euros for everyone.”

Housing allowance with heating cost component

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced that he will expand the group of recipients. “But we think a lot more people have to get that, and there has to be a heating cost component as well. And we’re doing such a reform at the beginning of next year,” said the SPD politician recently. He also announced tax relief. This time, pensioners and students should also benefit. Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) also commented in this direction. The housing allowance is a rent subsidy for low earners who otherwise do not receive any social benefits including housing costs, such as Hartz IV.

Price caps for electricity and gas

IG Metall boss Jörg Hofmann called for this in a dpa talk for a basic energy requirement and the SPD faction paper also provides for it. The parliamentary group leadership would like to see power and gas cuts ruled out. Tenants who cannot pay their additional costs should be protected from termination for six months from the settlement and also if they do not make advance payments.

Mobility assistance

The IG Metall boss called for the expiring tank discount to be converted into mobility money that helps commuters regardless of the means of transport. This also means that local public transport remains attractive in terms of price and performance. The SPD draft also envisages a successor to the 9-euro ticket: “In cooperation with the federal states, we want to introduce a nationwide public transport ticket with a monthly price of 49 euros, 50 percent of which is borne by the federal and state governments becomes.”

Decoupling of the electricity and gas markets

At the moment, the drastically increased gas prices are dragging the electricity market up with them. The SPD, Greens and FDP agree to “decouple” these markets. “Politicians have set up a profit autopilot on the electricity market,” said FDP leader Lindner of “Bild am Sonntag”. Based on the applicable rules, producers of solar, wind or coal power would automatically be paid as if they had bought expensive gas.

financing

In its paper, the SPD parliamentary group leadership calls for the costs of the crisis to be distributed fairly. “A suitable instrument for this is a targeted excess profit tax for those energy companies that are benefiting massively from this crisis.” CDU boss Merz demands that there must be “clear criteria for who has what entitlement” when it comes to services, so that the wrong people don’t collect. However, he warns: “But the fact is that the state cannot help everyone.” And: “In this crisis we will see companies that don’t make it.”