Four weeks after Putin's attack on Ukraine, the federal government is launching the second aid package to cushion the surge in energy prices for citizens triggered by the war.

On top of the around 15 billion euros of the February package, she puts a similar amount on top, spread even more widely.

Firstly, there are again financial relief for practically everyone: employees, the self-employed, drivers, users of local public transport, children and those on welfare.

Secondly, in the medium term, the traffic light coalition is forcing citizens to seriously save on fossil fuels at home and is also offering grants.

Since the SPD, Greens and FDP each wanted to serve their clientele, the federal government doubled its financial commitment to almost 30 billion euros, but probably more.

Because the traffic light had put itself under time pressure with a view to the Saar election on Sunday, it had to negotiate through the night.

For the first time, she broke with her intention to avoid such error-prone hasty actions.

Therefore, the Minister of Finance could not say in the morning what the energy shock absorber will really cost.

This shows that not all resolutions have been thought through to the end, surprises not only of a financial nature could still be hidden in the traffic light plan.

Compromise model of the grand coalition

The Greens sell this as a "social relief package" and "declaration of independence in energy policy".

There is a possible contradiction in the formula.

Energy saving requirements for new buildings and the replacement of heating systems usually increase the cost of living and put a strain on rents, so initially counteract social concerns.

The now suddenly urgent and compelling detachment from Russian oil and gas will exacerbate the acute problem of affordable rents in metropolitan areas.

This raises the question of whether the traffic light would do well to tailor the second relief package quickly and broadly rather than focusing on the problem areas.

The taxable energy price flat rate of 300 euros actually benefits everyone, even if low earners benefit more because they have a lower tax rate.

After all, the flat rate has a social component, as demanded by SPD Labor Minister Hubertus Heil – unlike the fuel discount initially brought into play by FDP Finance Minister Christian Lindner.

Unfortunately, there is nonetheless, in the form of a three-month reduction in the energy tax on fuels.

It makes petrol 30 cents cheaper and diesel 14 cents cheaper, similar to what Lindner originally wanted.

The payment promotes CO2 emissions from transport, which runs counter to the green climate projects.

Therefore, the already heavily subsidized local transport is dramatically cheaper, the monthly ticket should only cost 9 euros.

The traffic light follows the compromise pattern of the grand coalition: Instead of setting priorities based on needs, each partner gets a little right.

In return, one accepts a loss of efficiency and deadweight effects, as well as excessive costs.

Wouldn't it be urgent to offer help to companies that are particularly energy-dependent?

Many, if not the majority, of the now privileged citizens should not (yet) need government money.

They have - partly because of the lack of consumption during the pandemic - private reserves to absorb the energy price shock, if necessary by restricting other consumption.

In any case, the growth forecasts currently do not show any slump that speaks for an economic stimulus program.

If things go wrong, the new relief package, which is limited to a quarter of a year, will end just when

Hopefully worse will be avoided

Instead of wasting money prematurely, the traffic light and their chancellor would have had another instrument at their disposal: Olaf Scholz could have simply asked the citizens for more patience this week and for a little renunciation in view of the consequential costs of the war, which are difficult to calculate.

That would also have been a signal to the EU neighbors, some of whom are so generous in distributing energy aid as if the sky were raining money.

The traffic light could well justify a cautious position: With the need to conserve state finances in the event that the EU has to introduce a total energy embargo as the last peaceful weapon against Putin's aggression.

This sanction is also gaining broader approval in Germany.

If it becomes unavoidable, completely different shock absorbers will be needed in this country and in the EU - as in the Corona crisis - than have been discussed so far.

Rightly so then.

But one can still hope that we will be spared this case.