During debates about providing relief amidst rising fuel prices, the CDU’s social wing sharply criticized Federal Minister of Economics Katherina Reiche (CDU). Dennis Radtke, the federal chairman of the CDU employee wing, told the Funke media group newspapers that measures such as an increased commuting allowance ignore “the daily reality of many people”. Reiche had recently advocated for, among other things, a temporary increase in this commuting allowance.
Radtke criticized this, stating that “a higher commuting allowance does not immediately benefit people’s wallets-and it offers little help, especially to those with low incomes”. He pointed out that those who earn little already pay fewer taxes and therefore benefit less from tax-related measures. These proposals, he argued, would leave many people, particularly families and caregivers, who rely on support, unaddressed.
According to Radtke, if the federal government genuinely wants to ease the burden on people, it needs instruments of support that arrive in daily life regardless of income. “People do not need housewife tips on saving right now; they need effective support”. He noted that half the population has no savings and lives paycheck to paycheck.
As an alternative to consumer relief, Radtke demanded five comprehensive measures. These include dropping the value-added tax on groceries to zero percent and establishing a mobility allowance of 500 euros annually for all employees earning below 60 percent of the median income. Furthermore, he called for an additional supplement of 100 euros for every child.
In addition, as part of a five-point plan titled “Relieving Mobility Fairly-Structurally, Not Short-Term” the CDA head also urged for reliable capping of fuel prices through state intervention mechanisms and transparent pricing structures modeled after Luxembourg. Complementarily, the allowances under the federal travel expense act should be adjusted to ensure fair reimbursement for professionally necessary mobility. He considered beneficial also expanding the leeway for tax- and contribution-free allowances or one-time payments, enabling companies to support their employees without bureaucracy when mobility costs rise.
The head of the social wing concluded by warning that confidence in democracy and the current government is already significantly damaged, stressing that determined action is necessary now to reverse this trend.
