"It can't be lifted": Kretschmann wants to let relief package 3 burst

Created: 09/14/2022, 04:45 am

By: Jens Kiffmeier

Headwind for the traffic lights: Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) has threatened a blockade of the relief package 3 in the Federal Council.

Will the new 9 euro ticket fall through?

Berlin – Rebuff for the traffic light coalition: The planned relief package 3 is encountering increasing resistance – even within its own ranks.

After Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg is again threatened with a blockade in the Bundesrat.

Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) is particularly concerned about the poor financing of the rescue program in the gas crisis.

His federal state alone would incur up to four billion euros in additional costs, which was “not manageable”, criticized the Green.

Relief package 3: successor to the 9-euro ticket or tax reform – the Federal Council threatens to block the Federal Council

The federal government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) only launched the third relief package at the beginning of last week.

After the content had long been controversial in the traffic light coalition, the SPD, Greens and FDP agreed on a compromise worth billions.

Accordingly, an increase in child benefit is to come, as well as a housing benefit reform with a heating cost subsidy and the payment of a 300-euro energy flat-rate to pensioners or an extension of the 9-euro ticket.

Maybe say no to the relief package 3 in the Bundesrat: Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens).

© Marijan Murat/dpa

However, the Scholz cabinet had not coordinated all of the measures with the federal states.

However, since the reduction of the cold progression via a tax reform as well as a successor model for the popular 9-euro ticket must be co-financed by them, the states now want clear funding commitments from the federal government.

Third relief package: states announce veto - Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann is angry

In any case, Baden-Württemberg will no longer accept that the federal government would provide start-up financing and that the states would then have to bear the costs permanently.

Kretschmann fumed that he would no longer agree to such proposals in the Bundesrat.

"That must be really clear to everyone." The CDU Prime Ministers Markus Söder (Bavaria) and Hendrik Wüst (NRW) had already expressed a similar view of a stop sign for the third relief package.

So far, Lower Saxony has held back.

Energy flat rate for pensioners, a new 9-euro ticket, an increase in child benefit – this is what the traffic light is planning in the 3rd relief package

• Nationwide Germany ticket: 

  After the success of the 9-euro ticket, there should be a successor model.

  The federal and state governments still have to negotiate the details.

  The price range should be between 49 and 69 euros per month.

• Energy flat rate for pensioners and students: 

  Pensioners now also receive the energy flat rate of 300 euros.

  Payment is to be made on December 1st.

  Students and trainees are to receive a one-off payment of 200 euros.

• Increase in the standard rate for Hartz IV: 

  From January, Hartz IV is to be abolished and replaced by citizen income.

  In the course of the reform, the standard rate is to be increased.

  The rate for adults and children should increase by 50 euros.

  Single people currently receive 449 euros per month in basic security.

• Increase in child benefit: 

  families should be relieved.

  Therefore, the child benefit

  at the beginning of the year by 18 euros per month for the first and second child.

  Especially when several children live in the house, this is a great financial relief, said Scholz.

• Electricity price for basic consumption should be discounted: 

  According to the will of the traffic light coalition, a reduced price should apply in the future for a certain basic consumption of electricity.

  For an additional consumption beyond that, the price would not be limited.

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Zoff over relief package 3: Prime Ministers meet Chancellor Scholz for the crisis summit

In the Chancellery, people are ready to talk.

So Scholz promised a special prime ministerial conference.

On September 28, the heads of government are to meet in Berlin for consultations.

But time is of the essence for politics.

Because the gas prices continue to rise and threaten to bring the Germans enormously high utility bills in the coming months.

Consumers will certainly find little to gain from an ongoing feud between the federal and state governments.