Jan van Aken, the leader of the German Left Party (Links), urged the federal government to introduce an oil‑price clamp and revive the 9‑Euro‑ticket to relieve citizens from the high cost of fuel and transport.
He told the broadcasters RTL and ntv on Friday that “we need an oil‑price clamp” and, despite the odd sounding phrase, that “we also need the 9‑Euro‑ticket”.
Van Aken explained that many people are now tempted to switch from cars to public transport because of soaring petrol prices, yet most can’t afford bus and train with the current rates. “A mix of an oil‑price clamp for those who depend on cars and the 9‑Euro‑ticket for those who can switch would relieve people” he said.
According to him, a full tank now costs ten to twenty euros more than it did before the war. The increase in oil prices is also “quickly translated into higher prices at the supermarket”. He warned that rising oil prices will lift all goods, leading to inflation that the federal government can counteract.
Van Aken rejects the notion that the “Austrian model” at gas stations will be a relief for drivers. “Who does the federal government actually want to embarrass? This Austrian model works well in normal times. The system has been running for years, giving drivers the certainty that prices go up or down once a day, so they know when to refuel. But in crisis times, when prices only rise, it’s nothing but a bad joke” he said.
He expects fuel prices to rise further. “If we only have this rule for two weeks, we will see 14 price increases. Two weeks from now the price of gasoline will still be 2.30 euros or 2.40 euros. So it does nothing”. Van Aken called on the government to finally dare to address the oil companies directly, noting that those corporations made “billions in profit” at the start of the Ukraine war.
