DThe SPD parliamentary group wants to prevent an energy crisis and social hardship in winter with drastic measures. In the draft of the parliamentary group leadership for the closed conference on September 1st and 2nd, a whole package of measures is proposed as to how citizens can be relieved and the energy supply can be secured. These include a gas and electricity price brake, the reform of the gas levy that has only just been decided, if necessary the state involvement in energy suppliers and direct payments to the poor. The “massive costs” are to be financed, among other things, by an excess profit tax for energy companies, for example – which the coalition partner FDP rejects.
The traffic light coalition of SPD, Greens and FDP wants to decide very quickly on a third relief package because of the high inflation. The six-page SPD paper talks about one of the greatest challenges since World War II, which was triggered by the Russian attack on Ukraine. “No one should be left alone… Strong shoulders must do their part,” says the paper, with a view to the high energy bills facing households in Germany.
Criticism of Habeck and Scholz
Energy suppliers would have to be protected from collapse with an insolvency moratorium. The gas surcharge, which is due to come on October 1, should not go to companies that made profits, paid dividends or bonuses. The “beneficiaries of the crisis” would have to make their contribution. “If necessary, we will also consider state participation in critical infrastructure companies in this context,” says the SPD parliamentary group’s paper.
Previously, there had already been harsh criticism from SPD leader Lars Klingbeil to Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) because of the gas levy. FDP faction leader Christian Dürr also said that he could “quite understand” Klingbeil’s criticism of the levy. “Manual errors should be eliminated before the cabinet meeting,” he added in the “Bild” with a view to the cabinet meeting in Meseberg from Tuesday. “We have to be careful that state intervention does not make the energy crisis worse.
The Greens parliamentary group leader Britta Haßelmann, on the other hand, shifted the responsibility to Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD): “It was the Chancellor who announced the gas surcharge and other necessary relief for the entire federal government on July 22,” she told the RND media group. “It is true that improvements must be made,” said Green Party leader Omid Nouripour on ARD.
A 49 euro ticket
The SPD paper goes on to say that renewable energies must also be expanded at high speed and all obstacles to the construction of wind power plants and biogas plants must be removed. The SPD parliamentary group rejects a further extension of the service life for the three nuclear power plants still connected to the grid. However, should there be a possible “extension” of the operating time of the nuclear power plants for a few months, the safety standards would have to be observed.
When it comes to the relief, the proposals are primarily aimed at the year 2023, because then the sharp rise in gas and electricity prices will have a full impact on customers. Direct payments per capita are proposed, an amount is not mentioned. Retirees, students and trainees should also receive “targeted direct payments”. The standard rates for recipients of basic security benefits from the state are to be raised. The so-called cold progression, i.e. the increase in the amounts for the higher tax class, is intended to provide relief only for small and medium-sized incomes.
In the area of mobility, a nationwide valid public transport ticket is proposed at a monthly price of 49 euros, which the federal and state governments should jointly finance. For commuters, there should be direct payments, unspecified targeted support or help within the framework of the existing instrument of the commuter allowance.
In addition, the SPD wants to limit the further increase in energy costs for customers by the state: “A direct relief can be achieved via an electricity and gas price brake in the scope of a basic supply requirement to be named,” says the paper. This would effectively cap the price for part of the consumption, the way of financing is not mentioned. In the medium term, “an internationally competitive, ideally EU-wide industrial electricity price” should be examined. The decision to increase the CO2 price in emissions trading is to be suspended for two years.
There should also be special help for companies. To this end, the crisis aid framework, which already existed during the corona pandemic, is to be extended and expanded. “Liquidity assistance, in hardship cases also energy cost subsidies, for companies that are experiencing payment difficulties due to the economic crisis caused by the war, must be made possible quickly and unbureaucratically,” it also says. The short-time allowance is to be extended beyond September 2022.
