Lindner: Further relief will come

Created: 03/22/2022, 12:18 p.m

Christian Lindner (r, FDP), Federal Minister of Finance, and Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) talk during the Bundestag session.

© Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Refueling is becoming more and more expensive, and food prices are also rising.

Finance Minister Lindner promises relief for the citizens.

Harsh criticism of the minister's budget concept comes from the Union.

Berlin - Minister of Finance Christian Lindner has promised citizens further relief in view of the high energy prices.

"As a coalition, we agree: Further relief will come," said the FDP leader on Tuesday in the budget debate in the Bundestag.

The measures would have to take effect quickly, help to counteract current burdens, be time-limited and coordinated in a European context.

The coalition is currently discussing different models, he expects that in the end there will be a package with different measures, "because the living conditions in our country are also very different".

Lindner pleaded for further help for recipients of basic security in view of the rising food costs.

The broad middle of society is also burdened with mobility.

Different exemptions are conceivable here.

Previously, Lindner had suggested a subsidy when refueling.

After that, funding “with the watering can” without a social component was often criticized.

Ultimately, it is the goal that is important, not the individual measure, emphasized Lindner.

Criticism from the Union

The Union faction in the Bundestag accused Lindner of a lack of budgetary clarity.

"What you presented here today is not a budget to be discussed, but a household riddle that has to be guessed," said CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt in the budget debate in the Bundestag.

This is too little.

Christian Lindner (FDP), Federal Minister of Finance, is introducing the 2022 budget law with the federal financial plan for 2021-2025 to the Bundestag.

© Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Lindner had previously introduced the 2022 federal budget.

This provides for expenditure of 457.6 billion euros and new debt of 99.7 billion euros.

However, it will not stop there.

The finance minister announced that he would soon present a supplementary budget.

This will only include expenses directly related to the Ukraine war, he said.

The supplementary budget is likely to add billions more in debt.

Proposed moratorium on stress

Because of the war in Ukraine, Lindner also wants a moratorium on the burden on the German economy.

Everything must be avoided "that could further burden people and companies in this situation," said the FDP politician on Tuesday in the budget debate in the Bundestag.

Bureaucratic burdens should take second place to securing economic development.

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Lindner described the danger of a lack of economic growth coupled with high inflation and promised that the federal government would do everything possible to prevent such a scenario.

This included an increase in productivity, an acceleration of planning and approval procedures, relief, but also a modern, open immigration policy.

dpa