Against the energy crisis and price explosion: Merz presents a seven-point plan

Created: 07/13/2022 04:59

By: Patrick Freiwah

Friedrich Merz (CDU) calls on the Greens to rethink nuclear power (symbol image).

© Christoph Hardt/Imago

Inflation and an impending energy crisis are depressing the mood of the population.

While the federal government is looking for solutions, Friedrich Merz presents a seven-point plan.

Berlin/Munich - Recent inflation is depressing the income of citizens - and with it their well-being.

After Corona, the Ukraine conflict in 2022 caused prices to rise, in some cases massively, which are reflected in many areas of life.

This development has recently been exacerbated by the tense situation in the energy sector.

When it comes to the strategy for overcoming the energy crisis, the task of the federal government is to avert damage to the German population in the best possible way.

So far, the suspicion has been that the sanctions on Russia are more harmful to the local population than to Russia and Vladimir Putin.

How can German politicians take countermeasures?

Friedrich Merz appeals to the federal government to adjust its current course and, in an article published by

, presents seven steps that, in his opinion, promise prospects of improvement.

Energy crisis: Friedrich Merz (CDU) publishes a seven-point plan

According to Merz, Robert Habeck, in his office as Federal Minister of Economics, would be able to describe the current misery well, but had no idea how to overcome it.

In the report, the CDU leader names an "energy security plan" with seven points that the traffic light coalition can use to steer the country out of the crisis:

• Dampen food price increases if more fruit and grains are allowed to be grown immediately on all set-aside land.

  
  

• Further reduce energy taxes and introduce a low industrial electricity price: This would reduce production costs.

  
  

• Adjust the tax rate for small and medium incomes so that a salary increase is not immediately eaten up by taxes.

  
  

• Immediate enforcement of energy saving plans in public facilities: "Excessive lights off, air conditioning down. Italy is showing us how," Merz explains.

• Create a "Germany-wide competition for the best ideas" where people can learn from each other.

  Companies that effectively save electricity, fuel and gas would act as role models.

• Heating with biomass ramped up because the silos are full.

  
  

• Delay the imminent end of nuclear power in Germany: "We shouldn't take the opportunity to keep our power plants running in order to save gas in power generation," says Merz.

Energy crisis: Merz appeal towards the Greens - "Jump over your shadow"

As chairman of the largest opposition party, it is the task of CDU leader Friedrich Merz to put his finger in the wound of the federal government.

The proposed points are of course controversial, but are intended to help mitigate the effects of inflation.

One or the other aspect would burden the strained national budget with further additional costs.

As far as nuclear power is concerned, the CDU politician made an appeal to the Greens: “Dear Greens, jump over your shadow.

No bans on thinking!

Do it for Germany!”

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Adding to the urgency of a strategy, there is concern that Russia will not turn on Nord Stream 1's gas tap once the current maintenance work is complete - although there is no sign of it as of yet.

In view of the political tensions caused by the Ukraine war, however, Western politicians are concerned that Russia would allow gas to be tapped into the Baltic Sea pipeline, thereby exacerbating the energy crisis in Europe.

The currently most important connection for Russian natural gas to Germany has been switched off since Monday.

The reason is annual maintenance work on the Baltic Sea pipeline, which had been announced for a long time.

The Ukrainian government has meanwhile criticized the delivery of the gas turbine.