In view of the energy crisis and high inflation, Bavaria’s Prime Minister is demanding further extensive relief for the citizens and rapid action by the traffic light government in Berlin. The CSU boss sharply criticized the prioritization of the traffic light and made concrete proposals.
For people who suffer from high energy prices, it’s “bad, maybe sitting in a cold apartment in winter, but it’s even worse to be cold and out of work,” Söder told FOCUS Online. “Therefore, the federal government has to replan its budget. It must present a relief package after the summer break at the latest.”
Because of the high inflation, the CSU leader is particularly keen to relieve the burden on population groups that would have benefited less so far. “We need a policy without contradictions and a new weighting. The traffic light spent a lot of money in the wrong places – and on the other hand saved in the wrong places, as with pensioners and students. So far they have been left alone, but they too have to heat and eat.”
Söder also calls for the housing benefit reform announced by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) to be brought forward. “It’s good that the federal government is following our proposal for a housing benefit reform, but this help is needed for the fall and not just in January.”
But that’s not enough for Söder. According to him, tax cuts for electricity and energy are necessary, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. Söder is also calling for a reduction in VAT on groceries and the reduction of cold progression. According to the CSU leader, the money is there if the government in Berlin sets the right priorities. “The traffic light owes 300 billion euros and creates 10,000 new civil servant positions, but has no money for real relief. This shows that the wrong priorities are being set. Normal earners in particular must be given more attention again. We must do everything we can to get people through this crisis well.”
The Paritätischer Gesamtverband had also called for an immediate reaction from the federal government in view of rising energy prices. “Prices for electricity and gas are rising now and in the coming weeks. We have to relieve people quickly – and not just on January 1st,” said managing director Ulrich Schneider of the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. The government’s previous schedule completely ignores the dynamic and dramatic nature of the situation Plans are specified in the regular budget deliberations, and no supplementary budget is presented for them.
