Ricarda Lang, the former Federal Convener of Alliance 90/The Greens, has called on the federal government to provide immediate financial relief to citizens in response to the strained economic situation. According to Lang in an interview with the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” she believes that one sensible measure would be to reduce the value-added tax on basic foodstuffs to zero, as this is a cost that citizens feel directly in their wallets.
In addition to eliminating the tax on essential groceries, Lang advocated for the reintroduction of the nine-euro ticket and established a right to work from home to lessen the financial burden caused by high fuel prices. She suggested that the funding for these measures should come, in part, from a so-called “superprofit tax”. The Green politician stated that companies benefiting from the crisis, particularly oil conglomerates, should contribute more, and the proceeds should be used to ease the burden for those who rely on cars for their jobs.
Lang also warned that the federal government has not yet fully grasped the extent of the impact caused by the conflict in the Middle East, criticizing the government’s current actions as too “piecemeal”.
