German Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) does not want to extend the fuel discount or the 9 euro ticket for public transport after August. The state cannot permanently compensate for the increased prices. At the same time, Lindner made a positive balance after the first weeks.
Commuters and drivers are relieved, the German finance minister said. The price level at the pump is falling again and the development is better than abroad. According to Lindner, the ticket of 9 euros and the fuel discount cannot be extended. “We cannot use public money to offset the prolonged rise in the price of imported oil, the development of the dollar and the shortages in refineries.”
In addition, Lindner rejects free public transport, “because shortages could not be controlled by price.” There was a risk that capacity would be used unnecessarily and excessively. In order to relieve citizens of inflation in the event of inflation, the minister opted instead for higher benefits for recipients of basic insurance and an inflation-adjusted wage and income tax in the coming year.
“Give back to drivers”
The politician was also satisfied with the reduced energy tax. “(…) Given the increased world market price, the income of the state is expected to increase this year. That’s why we reduced the energy tax for three months to give drivers something back of what they would otherwise pay the state more.”
Source: Krone
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