Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has expressed his confidence that he will come to a financial agreement with the federal states for further relief in the energy crisis. The additional 200 billion euros now planned by the federal government for this “represented a very significant change in the direction of a shared burden,” said Scholz on Thursday in Berlin.
In this way, the federal government is helping to reduce the burden on hospitals, social institutions, universities and schools, for example. The federal government takes on many times the tasks that the federal states and municipalities handle. “So I’m sure we’ll get along.”
Scholz and the prime ministers want to discuss the financing of the planned further relief next Tuesday. The federal states had met among themselves on Wednesday and called for an energy price cap for electricity, gas and heat.
“Constructive Tones”
Scholz said that “very clever, constructive tones and statements” could be heard. Everyone knew that the countries would also have to shoulder a large part, he said he was willing to do so. Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) made it clear that the federal states themselves would be relieved with the additional plans of the federal government, as well as sports clubs – so that a concession from the federal states would now be welcome.
The federal states had again called for “a fair distribution of the burden between the federal, state and local authorities”. They also referred to the rising costs of the clinics and called for more money for buses and trains and, among other things, a protective shield for the public utilities.
Scholz has announced a new “defense shield” of up to 200 billion euros to support consumers and companies because of the sharp rise in energy prices. The controversial gas levy is off the table – there should be a gas price brake for that.
