Saarland’s prime minister wedges against the state in the fuel price debate – and gets bogged down in questionable statements about low earners. The network is outraged, the SPD speaks of “over-staging”.
Saarland Prime Minister and CDU top candidate for the upcoming state elections, Tobias Hans, has drawn criticism for statements about high energy costs.
Hans posted a short video on Twitter, which he apparently took himself in front of a gas station. In it he calls the price of 2.12 euros for a liter of diesel “really crazy”.
Of course, this has to do with the Ukraine crisis and with things that the federal government cannot influence, he adds. “But the problem is simply that the state is enriching itself at the moment. The state enriches itself from these increased energy costs, and that is why a fuel price brake is needed.”
This statement caused controversy. “As an MP, he should know that #taxes finance our democracy,” said the Saarland Greens top candidate Lisa Becker on Twitter.
«Meet (…) the many hard-working people»
Hans was also criticized for speaking in a passage of low earners and “hardworking people”. “This not only affects low earners, it really affects the many hard-working people who have to refuel, who refuel their diesel vehicles, who drive to work, who bring the children to sports,” said Hans in the video.
The CDU politician told the editorial network Germany (RND) that the state is currently making good money from the high prices through tax revenue – but he should not enrich himself from the crisis. “Therefore, the VAT for fuel must be reduced from 19 to seven percent in the short term.” He announced a Federal Council initiative. People are shocked by the rising prices, which is particularly noticeable at the gas stations. “This puts everyone, low earners and the middle class, in distress.”
“Energy prices have to come down. Prime Ministers should not demonstrate with the state car in front of gas stations, but find solutions,” criticized the Secretary General of the Saar SPD, Christian Petry. The SPD is also committed to rapid relief in the price of petrol and heating. But: “You can’t achieve anything by over-staging in the election campaign.”
According to Petry, the SPD invites Hans to act together as the state government. “However, one has to reject the fact that Tobias Hans claims that low earners are not among the hard-working in our society. That does not work like this.”
A coalition of CDU and SPD currently governs Saarland. A new state parliament will be elected on March 27th.
Source: Stern
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