The planned end of the energy price caps for electricity and gas at the end of the year is being rejected by the unions. “It remains necessary to stabilize energy prices,” said Yasmin Fahimi, chairwoman of the German Federation of Trade Unions (DGB), to the German Press Agency.
“The DGB is therefore particularly calling for the electricity price brake to be extended and modified in order to supply households, social services, businesses and industry with affordable electricity,” said Fahimi.
Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) announced on Friday that the state caps on gas and electricity prices would expire at the end of the year and not at the end of March. The background is the budget ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court on November 15th, which means the government is now missing billions.
“Letting the price brakes expire before winter will cause additional uncertainty,” said Fahimi. “But exactly the opposite is needed.”
The trade unionist spoke of the negative effects of the debt brake. As a result, the state’s scope for debt is severely limited by law. “Continuing to hold on to this now puts social cohesion and also the economic location at risk,” warned Fahimi.
