Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner has warned that high energy prices could destroy Germany’s economic base. “Putin’s energy war must not lead to the destruction of what has been built up in our country over decades, including healthy structures in small and medium-sized businesses and trades,” said the FDP chairman on Friday on the fringes of the prime ministers’ conference in Hannover.
Therefore, the federal government has earmarked 200 billion euros for a defense shield. “This gives us the means to do what is necessary this year, next year and the year after that,” said Lindner. “One thing is clear, energy and gas will remain expensive.” Savings and changes in the economic structure will have to be made. “But we will curb the ruinous price peaks that people and companies are so worried about at the moment.”
Finance Minister and Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) had previously presented the federal government’s plans for a gas price brake to the state heads of government. Habeck said on the sidelines of the conference that they had also discussed whether further support could come in January and February after a down payment in December, before the actual brake should then take hold in March.
Habeck now said: “If there are any calculations that question the work of the commission, then we will deal with it again. First of all, the announcement from the federal government: we will implement the proposals of the commission.”
Lindner said: “We are working at high speed to ensure that people and companies will see something with gas this year, and that we can also send an assurance to our country at the beginning of next year that the state cushions the financial burdens in this time of crisis.”
