Elif Eralp, the Berlin Left’s leading candidate for the House of Representatives election, is calling for relief measures to offset rising petrol and diesel costs. Speaking to the Tagesspiegel, she stated that true support must be targeted toward people who genuinely need it. Eralp advocates for a fuel subsidy specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises, alongside a more affordable Deutschlandticket, to alleviate the burden on Berlin residents.
The Left politician also criticized Kai Wegner, the Governing Mayor and CDU state leader. Eralp claimed, “We are addressing the problems with concrete proposals that have a real-world impact, while Mr. Wegner is relying on demands that sound good but ultimately change nothing”. Wegner had recently described high fuel prices as unbearable and had called for a price cap from the federal government, similar to Poland’s, and a suspension of the CO2 tax to curb prices quickly.
In contrast, Eralp advocates for targeted aid rather than a generalized handout. “Berlin must help those who need it” she said. She dismissed the Governing Mayor’s call for a fuel price ceiling, arguing, “It is convenient, it costs Berlin nothing, will never happen, and won’t help those who need it most”.
Eralp pointed out that many people rely on public transport, stating, “Others simply have no choice: craftsmen, care workers, and delivery services depend on their vehicles just as others depend on an elevator”. She stressed the need for focused support, suggesting a temporary fuel subsidy for commercial vehicles used by small and medium enterprises, which could be processed easily through tax returns or the Chamber of Crafts.
Furthermore, Eralp pushed for a reduction in ticket prices. She asserted that “the majority needs a more affordable Deutschlandticket” arguing that the current €63 monthly cost is simply too much for many Berlin residents. She highlighted that the Nine Euro Ticket in 2022 proved that lower prices encourage people to use public transport. Eralp demanded that Berlin lead the way on the Deutschlandticket and push, in collaboration with metropolitan regions like Munich and Frankfurt, for a maximum cost of €49 per month. She estimated that for one to one-and-a-half million users, this would cost between €14 and €21 million monthly-less than 0.1 percent of Berlin’s budget of around 45 billion euros-calling it feasible and long overdue.
