The head of the Green party faction, Katharina Dröge, strongly criticized the price increase of the Deutschlandticket, arguing that it is unfair especially when contrasted with the state’s fuel subsidies. Speaking to RTL and ntv on Thursday, Dröge labeled the situation an “absolute outrage” regarding rail passengers. She highlighted that while the government is allocating 2.5 billion euros for fuel discounts, it is failing to use those funds to keep the ticket price stable. Dröge argued that the initial price of 49 euros would have been a fair rate, and increasing it now while other financial support is available for drivers “nobody will understand.”
Dröge is calling for a guaranteed price on the ticket. She noted that many employers and commuters are hesitant to sign up for the subscription because they do not know if the price will continue to rise every year. She is convinced that if a price guarantee were put in place, as the Greens are proposing, even more people would choose “a very cool ticket,” leading to a greater number of subscribers and potentially even lower prices.
Furthermore, Dröge challenged Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD), accusing him of using weak justifications to reject a direct cash payout to citizens instead of the fuel discount. “Lars Klingbeil is really making excuses with poor arguments when he claims the money cannot be disbursed,” Dröge stated. She pointed out that the disbursement mechanism started in the “traffic light” coalition is now complete. “He could use exactly that method right now. He obviously doesn’t want to,” the Green politician insisted.
Dröge advocated for a flat energy payment to be distributed directly into people’s accounts, proposing that this could be financed through a windfall tax. In contrast, she argued that a significant portion of the fuel discount benefits mineral oil corporations. She added that households with larger vehicles benefited the most from this subsidy. “If the federal government spends 2.5 billion euros, it shouldn’t spend it in a way that allows the top ten percent to benefit the most,” Dröge asserted.
Directing her comments to the CDU and SPD, she concluded: “It is simply bad politics, I have to say that honestly. Hapless. A poor compromise with ultimately no courage to try something new.”
