The gas price brake is coming - at least for rethinking the traffic light deserves praise
Created: 09/30/2022, 09:11
By: Christian Deutschländer
Christian Deutschländer comments on the gas price cap.
© Peter Kneffel/dpa/Marcus Schlaf/Montage:MM
Financially an extreme feat, 200 billion on credit.
Nevertheless, the traffic light plans that have been known since Wednesday point in the right direction, comments Christian Deutschländer.
At least since the explosive attacks on the gas pipelines, it has been clear: Germany must defend itself in an energy war, a sideshow of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Energy shortages threaten our economy, from village bakers to mega factories.
Exploding energy prices threaten social peace, because there will be mass demonstrations when heating costs increase eightfold in winter.
This is the ugly situation, and Berlin has just received an essential insight: The government cannot fight this by increasing third-party child benefits by EUR 2.50.
Gas surcharge died: At least for rethinking, the traffic light deserves praise
That is why the gas price brake is necessary.
Financially an extreme feat, 200 billion on credit.
Nevertheless, the traffic light plans that have been known since Wednesday point in the right direction.
Only a part of the gas requirement should be capped in price in order to set savings incentives - right!
The brake should come quickly and without many special rules - right!
It is credit-financed by a huge fund, but the debt brake should come into effect again in 2023 – rightly so, at least for the time being.
This includes: Robert Habeck's gas levy, which would have made everything more expensive instead of cheaper, is hectically collected less than 36 hours before it comes into force - from the start it was a botch, a big, embarrassing management mistake by this coalition.
At least for the rethinking, the traffic light deserves praise: if it doesn't mess up the price cap in implementation, and if the Union doesn't brake in an always-against mode, which it was the first to demand - then that was a good day.
Together with tax cuts and the electricity price brake, this package alleviates the concerns of millions of people.
Traffic light ahead of big tasks - you can find out what the SPD, Greens and FDP are planning in our political newsletter.
