Ines Schwerdtner, the leader of the Linke party, has urged the governing coalition to introduce relief packages for consumers ahead of the federal government’s cabinet session. She states that people are returning from holidays only to face another price shock, noting that Super E10 petrol is approaching record highs and diesel is costing over 2.26 euros.
According to Schwerdtner, the federal government must implement a national windfall tax on oil corporations and ensure the revenue is returned to the public. She then detailed several specific measures required, including installing a price cap on fuel to prevent exploitation at the pump, providing 150 euros in energy crisis aid, reducing the electricity tax to the European minimum, and guaranteeing affordable mobility.
The coalition government, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), is scheduled to meet for a two-day cabinet session at Schloss Neuhardenberg in Brandenburg on Tuesday. While the central topic of the coalition’s discussion is reportedly strengthening the competitiveness of the German economy, Schwerdtner cautioned that the government must not overlook citizens who are responsible for paying for groceries, fuel, and heating costs.
“When they leave Neuhardenberg, a concrete relief package must be on the table,” Schwerdtner insisted, adding that the cabinet session “cannot end with nice photos and future announcements. This topic must be moved to the top of the agenda now.”
