Electricity and petrol prices: "Need a bailout for the people"

Created: 03/22/2022, 19:53

By: Jens Kiffmeier

Electricity, gas, petrol: consumers are burdened by high prices.

But the government is arguing about the right relief package for 2022. Now even the Green Youth is warning.

Berlin – Whether for heating or food: the Ukraine war is driving up consumer prices in Germany dramatically.

That is why the Green Youth has now called for a quick agreement within the traffic light coalition for a relief package for 2022.

“The rising prices for heating, in the supermarket and at the gas station are causing problems for many people.

The government must act now," said the spokeswoman for the party youth organization, Sarah-Lee Heinrich, to kreiszeitung.de and at the same time called for energy money to be paid to the citizens.

High prices for electricity, gas or food: the traffic light coalition is bickering over the 2022 relief package

The Green Youth was also reacting to a dispute within the federal government.

After the prices for electricity, gas, petrol, but also for food had already risen sharply at the turn of the year, the Ukraine-Russia war recently drove up the costs enormously.

In the coalition of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), there is fundamental agreement that the Germans must be relieved of the high energy prices quickly.

However, there are different ideas about how this should be done.

According to reports, the partners of the SPD, FDP and Greens want to agree on the basics of a new relief package in the cabinet by Wednesday at the latest.

Arguing about the relief in energy costs: Sarah-Lee Heinrich (Green Youth) and Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP).

(kreiszeitung.de assembly) © Hauke-Christian Dittrich/Kay Nietfeld/dpa

One-time payment for Hartz IV, mobility allowance or heating subsidy: FDP and Greens promise relief from energy prices

From the point of view of the Green Youth, which has recently repeatedly called for the abolition of Hartz IV and the introduction of citizen income, time is of the essence.

"The relief must come as soon as possible," warned Heinrich.

So far, all the measures that have been passed, such as the heating cost subsidy for housing benefit recipients, have been insufficient.

"We need a rescue package for the people," clarified the party leader.

Heinrich therefore suggested increasing the heating surcharge and granting a bonus to Hartz IV recipients.

She also continued to plead for the introduction of an energy money.

This is a direct payment to the citizens, with which the social hardships caused by rising energy prices are to be cushioned.

The proposal comes from the election program of the Greens, who were unable to get the idea accepted in the coalition negotiations.

Resistance was particularly strong from the FDP.

However, the Liberals now share the realization that there must be relief, such as the heating cost subsidy.

This was reiterated by Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP): "As a coalition, we agree: Further relief will come," the FDP leader made clear on Tuesday in the Bundestag's budget debate, according to the dpa news agency.

The measures would have to take effect quickly, help to counteract current stresses and be limited in time.

The coalition is therefore currently advising on different models.

Energy money: Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) clears the proposal from the table

According to consistent media reports, further aid for those receiving basic social security is actually being discussed in view of the rising food costs.

Subsidies for refueling are also always an issue for commuters.

The introduction of a mobility allowance would also be conceivable.

Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) introduced the proposal.

The idea: Depending on their income, employees should receive a monthly subsidy via their pay slip.

The should be staggered, the lower the salary, the higher the subsidy.

It should be between 25 and 50 euros a month.

From the point of view of the coalition, the mobility money has the charm that it could be introduced faster than energy money.

The billing via the pay slip would be uncomplicated.

In the case of energy money, which should go to every citizen, the implementation is more difficult because the state does not automatically have the account number of every German.

This could be one more reason why the favorite green project should probably be off the table.

Economics Minister Robert Habeck already confirmed this in an interview with ARD.

The energy money is "absolutely sensible," he said, and then added: "But it's possible that the package, which has to take effect quickly, will go to other solutions." The Green Youth will not have liked to hear that.

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