The high energy prices, but also the countermeasures taken by the government in Paris, are putting the SPD, Greens and FDP under pressure.

The increased prices for petrol, heating oil and gas have long since become a political issue.

France responded.

Prime Minister Jean Castex announced one-off payments.

What can and what must a traffic light coalition do to relieve the citizens?

Manfred Schäfers

Business correspondent in Berlin.

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Niklas Záboji

Business correspondent in Paris

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The Federation of German Consumer Organizations calls for action in Germany now. “The energy money may be a possibility for France, but it is limited to a one-off 100 euros and is supposed to go to 38 million people,” said CEO Klaus Müller of the FAZ really need the money - that is, low-income households ”. In that case, he could even imagine more than in France: "That can also be more than 100 euros for it." The taxpayers' association urges politicians to act now to relieve the citizens. "This is only fair because state taxes make up the majority of the price of gasoline," President Reiner Holznagel told the FAZRaising the commuter allowance to 40 cents from the first kilometer is a quick relief. It is currently 30 cents, from the 21st kilometer to 0.35 cents.

"The German electricity prices for households are the highest in the EU"

Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU) has been promoting relief for a long time.

“We have to keep an eye on fuel prices because mobility has a social component,” he warned ten days ago in Hamburg.

If the fuel at the pump costs 2 euros, politicians have to act.

With this in mind, he wrote to Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD), who is currently working on the coalition that will elect him Chancellor in December.

With the value added tax, the federal government is benefiting from rising energy and fuel prices, according to the letter to the "dear colleagues, dear Olaf".

"That is why we should use financial leeway to relieve the many people who are currently dependent on their car for their daily commute to work."

An answer has not yet been announced.

And the allegedly new coalitionists are keeping a low profile on this point as usual.

Taxpayer President Holznagel demands that the entire additional burden of energy prices be taken into account: “The German electricity prices for households are the highest in the European Union.” The tax authorities earn a lot from the rising energy prices.

The additional income would therefore have to be returned to the consumer.

If the electricity tax were to be reduced to the minimum amount stipulated by the EU, an average household would be relieved of more than 80 euros per year.

The consumer association is pushing for housing benefit, Hartz IV and basic old-age security to be adjusted so that the higher energy prices are covered.

Gas barriers would have to be suspended.

Inflation compensation for the "classe moyenne"

In France there should be a tax-free "inflation adjustment" of 100 euros for all those French who currently earn less than 2000 euros net per month. The aid should be paid out from December onwards. The money will be transferred "automatically", Castex said on television on Thursday evening. His announcement had been eagerly awaited. The high energy prices have been a dominant topic in the French media for days. As in Germany, the average price for a liter of petrol and diesel is now well over 1.50 euros. Measures against the increase in electricity and gas costs were decided at the end of September. According to this, the regulated tariffs are to be capped in addition to benefits for the particularly needy.Thanks to a tax cut, electricity costs will only rise by 4 percent instead of the usual 12 percent, and heating costs will not increase at all this winter. It shouldn't stay that way. As Prime Minister Castex said, the cap on gas tariffs, which originally only lasted until spring, will now apply for the entire coming year. The experts said that the high gas price is likely to return to normal levels more slowly than was initially expected, argued Castex.Castex argued that the high gas price is likely to return to normal levels more slowly than was initially expected.Castex argued that the high gas price is likely to return to normal levels more slowly than was initially expected.

More than half of all French are said to benefit from the “inflation adjustment”. Personal income is decisive. If both earn 1900 euros in a two-person household, both receive 100 euros. The addressee is the “classe moyenne”, that is, the middle class, according to the Prime Minister. The upswing should not be stalled. Of course, the measures also aim to ensure that there is no dissatisfaction among the population before the presidential election next spring. Employees and civil servants should receive the 100 euros through their payroll. For the self-employed, the unemployed, students and pensioners, the compensation runs through the funds responsible for them.

The payout will be mandatory for employers, the government specified on Friday.

The necessary laws and the budget update will be put in place quickly.

With Carrefour, the first company announced that it would voluntarily go a step further and even want to transfer 200 euros to low-income employees.

The "inflation adjustment" is expected to cost the state 3.8 billion euros.

That would be affordable without endangering the set limit of 5 percent budget deficit in the coming year, assured the government.