Now that Christian Lindner seems to be losing interest in the gas levy, there are only a few days left to avert it.

If it were to be introduced on October 1, no one in the coalition would know why.

The SPD, Greens and FDP have gradually distanced themselves from the levy - and aren't they the parties that govern the country?

Whoever is held responsible for this (Robert Habeck has the buck for the time being), they will be able to excuse themselves by saying that the development on the gas market simply overwhelmed the government.

On the other hand, it can be objected that other countries were quicker and have long since embarked on the course that Germany is now likely to follow.

Lindner rightly refers to the "economic sense question".

Supporting gas importers, the purpose of the surcharge, makes sense.

The state is now doing this in a different way anyway, see Uniper.

Within a short period of time, the impression was reinforced that the gas price was being increased by the state, even though it was its job to ensure the opposite.

The ripcord before the Lower Saxony elections

The absurdity is now also burdening the election campaign of Lindner's party in Lower Saxony.

The way out, the gas price brake, became apparent weeks ago, but was first sent to the working group loop.

But price caps also have to be paid for.

So far, Lindner has resisted alternatives to the levy because the debt brake seemed endangered.

Price brakes relieve consumers, but not the taxpayer.

The Ministry of Economics expects costs in the lush double-digit billions, depending on how the electricity and gas price brakes are set.

If the gas surcharge does not come, the next tax debate is just around the corner.

For the coalition, these are anything but relief packages.

The progress that she wanted to dare is currently being drowned out in the cry for help that the price of government can be reduced as easily as other prices: cover it up.