The traffic light parties want to agree on a third relief package on Saturday. The wishes of the SPD, Greens and FDP differed significantly until the end. These points are on the table.
After weeks of discussion, the traffic light parties want to agree on a “heavy” relief package on Saturday because of the high energy and living costs. To this end, the coalition committee will meet in the Chancellery in the morning.
The wishes of the SPD, Greens and FDP differed significantly until the end. An overview.
The SPD parliamentary group focuses in particular on people with small and middle incomes. The Greens emphasize that they are concerned with targeted measures, the leadership of the parliamentary group proposes help for those receiving basic security, families, people on low incomes and pensions. With the third relief package, the FDP wants to push through relief for the working population.
The traffic light parties agree that they want to support pensioners and students in a targeted manner. Also as a reaction to the criticism of the previous relief package (300-euro energy money only applied to employed persons). Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) said: “We will do something for pensioners and students and reduce taxes for many.” Federal Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger (FDP) also wants to support students. FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr emphasized that this time one-off payments should reach pensioners and students in particular.
The SPD parliamentary group also wants to provide relief with direct payments. “The focus is on groups such as pensioners, students, trainees, but especially those who only have a small or medium income,” said SPD parliamentary group leader Mützenich.
The parties are also largely in agreement that there should be a successor to the expired 9-euro ticket. In the meantime, even the FDP ministers Christian Lindner and Volker Wissing are in favor of it. Transport Minister Wissing said he wanted to find a successor solution by the beginning of 2023 at the latest, even if it was more expensive than 9 euros a month. He also wants to hold talks with the states about sharing the costs with the federal government. The SPD and the Greens have already spoken out in favor of a nationwide ticket for 49 euros, while the Greens also want to introduce a 29-euro regional ticket. The question of financing is still open.
Both the SPD and the Greens want to support people with regard to rising energy prices. The Social Democrats are proposing a price brake for a basic energy requirement. The Greens want to pay out an energy price lump sum, the amount of which should be graduated according to the respective income.
The SPD parliamentary group leader, Rolf Muetzenich, reiterated the SPD’s call for an excess profit tax to skim off crisis profits from companies in the energy sector, for example. This is “an important tool” for the Social Democrats, he stressed. The Greens are for it too. FDP leader Christian Lindner, on the other hand, is skeptical about the excess profit tax and also refers to legal hurdles.
SPD Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced in July a major reform of housing benefits until the beginning of 2023. It should be accessible to a broader mass of people, but details remained unclear. The Greens confirmed this plan in advance of the committee. The SPD also wants to enforce six-month protection against evictions for tenants who are unable to pay their operating costs.
Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) wants to compensate for the cold progression. This is an effect that causes citizens to pay more taxes in times of high inflation, even though their purchasing power does not increase. The Minister of Finance has therefore proposed raising the basic allowance and the limit for the top tax rate.
Politicians from the coalition partners SPD and Greens criticize the proposal that euros and cents would arrive less with low earners than with top earners. Lindner rejected this.
