Tank discounts in the billions: Energy has become so expensive – Lindner wants so much relief

Christian Lindner insisted on stepping in front of the microphone himself on Monday after the meeting of the FDP federal executive committee to promote his "crisis discount fuel".

"The state must not leave the citizens alone with the rising prices," said the Federal Minister of Finance and leader of the FDP.

Therefore, according to his plans, there should be a price reduction at the gas stations in the future.

In what amount, Lindner did not reveal.

He only said that a discount of 10 cents per liter of diesel or petrol for a month costs around 550 million euros.

And added: "If I have my way, it will have to be more than 10 cents and a month."

Unlike the United States, Germany has not yet imposed an import ban on Russian oil, so it has not reduced supply.

However, prices have recently risen so sharply that the government sees itself under pressure.

According to the ADAC, the price of petrol has risen by a third since the beginning of the year and that of diesel by 47 percent.

The economy calls for relief

Business associations are increasingly demanding relief.

Since the yellow vest movement in France, there has also been concern about protests in Berlin.

Therefore, a large relief package for private households and the economy should come quickly.

The points are still being discussed, but some things are emerging.

The early abolition of the EEG surcharge on the electricity price on July 1 has already been decided in the traffic light coalition.

Also under discussion is increasing the heating subsidy for recipients of housing benefit and BAföG.

Instead of 135 or 115 euros, they could receive more money in June to settle the higher utility bills.

For companies with liquidity bottlenecks, there is already the possibility of applying for loans from the state bank KfW, said a spokesman for Economics and Climate Minister Robert Habeck (Greens).

Work is underway on special loan programs for companies affected by Russian sanctions and for the energy sector.

There could also be bridging aid similar to the Corona programs, this time for companies that are suffering greatly from the increased raw material costs.

Tank discount is not yet a consensus in the traffic light

It was initially unclear when the relief package should take effect.

Lindner's tank discount is not yet a consensus in the coalition.

Last but not least, there is resistance from the green government partner.

Habeck had already described the idea as improvable on Sunday.

It should also contain market elements and incentives for efficient behavior, his spokesman emphasized on Monday: "Saving energy must be worthwhile."

The budget spokesman for the Greens, Sven-Christian Kindler, also warned: "A planned economy and subsidizing the price of petrol is not a really well thought-out idea." Instead, he campaigned for targeted payments for low-income people.

Oliver Krischer, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Ministry of Economics, brought an old proposal from the Greens back into play: "You have to check everything now, and that includes a speed limit," he said.

Criticism also came from economists.

"The fuel price cap also relieves the fuel bill of very rich SUV drivers," complained Jens Südekum from Düsseldorf's Heinrich Heine University.

"That's money thrown out the window." The Kiel Institute for the World Economy calculated that around 60 billion liters of petrol and diesel were consumed in Germany last year.