ALast Friday, Ingo Seifert formulated an open letter to Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens), three days later he could hardly save himself from the encouragement. “It’s immense,” says the non-party mayor of the town of Schneeberg in the Ore Mountains. “Many small business owners, restaurant operators and bakers ask me to put their logos under the letter.” Under the subject line “High time for a change of course”, Seifert formulated what is currently on the minds of citizens and entrepreneurs in his region in relation to the global political situation.
The rising prices, especially for energy, are now “reaching threatening proportions for citizens and companies”. This development will “result in countless cases in private households and companies, crafts, trade and service companies no longer being able to bear this financial burden” and “being brought to the brink of existence”.
Calls by the federal government and by Habeck to save energy, as well as promises to provide financial relief, are “rather only token measures whose effects will wear off within a very short time,” says the letter, at the end of which Seifert “now urgently a change of course”.
“Do not endanger social peace”
“If sanctions and embargoes do not have the effect that was intended, and if the effects of these measures only affect their own population and economy, then it is time to question decisions and, at best, to revise them.” remain dependent on fossil fuels, including gas, and these fuels must continue to be available “at affordable prices”. “This is necessary in order not to endanger social peace and to maintain our economic performance.”
The letter is by no means the first of its kind; Craftsmen and entrepreneurs from Rügen, Halle and Leipzig, among others, had previously contacted Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD). However, it caused a sensation that in addition to numerous craft businesses, all 15 city councilors signed it in Schneeberg – from the CDU to the Free Voters to the Left and the AfD. The SPD and the Greens are not there because they are simply not represented on the council of the 15,000-inhabitant city.
Schneeberg in the Ore Mountains: Politicians and entrepreneurs are calling for an end to the sanctions against Russia.
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Image: Picture Alliance
For Mayor Seifert, the political unanimity, including the AfD, is not a problem, but rather proof of the seriousness of the situation regarding the energy transition and sanctions. “People are saying the same thing to city councilors on every corner,” he says. “You keep getting told fears and concerns.” Incidentally, only twelve percent of the voters in his city voted for the AfD, and “95 percent of all decisions in the city council were made unanimously”, whether it was about road and school construction or others for the city important projects go. Nobody has ever been upset about it.
While the CDU in the Erzgebirge did not comment on the Schneeberg cause on Monday, the left is uncomfortable with the matter. “I wouldn’t have signed it like that,” says Rico Gebhardt, district chairman of the party in the Ore Mountains and leader of the Left Party in the Saxon state parliament. “Protest is legitimate, but there must be a clear demarcation. I’m not in league with racists.”
However, he protects the two left-wing city councilors in Schneeberg. They were on vacation and didn’t know that the AfD also signed the letter. Gebhardt is one of those leftists who clearly condemn Putin’s attack on Ukraine, advocate sanctions and see calls for negotiations in vain given Putin’s apparent lack of willingness at the moment. However, he expressly shares the worries of the craftsmen. The fear of losing one’s livelihood is also greater in the East because many people had already experienced one in 1990, he says.
No planning security
Oliver Kramer is a master roofer in Schneeberg and co-signed the letter to Habeck. In view of the ever-rising prices, he fears a chain reaction, says the 43-year-old man. Compared to the previous year, fuel prices were twice as high and material costs had risen by 20 to 30 percent, and many customers “couldn’t swallow it anymore”. He currently still has enough orders for himself and his six employees.
But the development unsettles him. No one can say how far all this will go. “The war is bad, terrible, but we can’t help it.” There is no planning security whatsoever, and he has already recorded the first cancellations from customers who are now putting their construction projects on hold. Above all, he would like to know from the government how this is all going to continue.
Volker Lux, General Manager of the Leipzig Chamber of Crafts, also knows these fears. “These letters are calls for help,” he says. “The greatest concern of our members is that their services are no longer marketable given the price increases.” “Many express serious doubts about the problem-solving competence of the federal government,” says Lux.
There was a particularly big shake of the head in view of the ever-new promises of relief. “Everyone knows that these have to be counter-financed and that the taxes for them have to be worked out by someone.” But one also has to return to what is feasible – for example in the case of energy prices. The fears expressed in the letters are a reality, says Lux, and recommends taking them seriously. After all, the craftsmen “only” wrote letters.
