The traffic light would like to make bus and train travel much cheaper for three months. It is providing 2.5 billion euros for this purpose. It also lowered the gasoline tax. In the Federal Council, however, there is still a threat of resistance.
The Bundestag has cleared the way for the planned 9-euro ticket, which should enable people to travel by bus and train at greatly reduced prices for three months. The law, which was passed late Thursday evening with the votes of the traffic light coalition and the left, regulates the financing of the project by the federal government. However, the planned subsidy of 2.5 billion euros does not go far enough for some countries, which is why the approval of the Federal Council, which is also necessary on Friday, is still open.
According to the plans of the SPD, Greens and FDP, there will be monthly tickets for 9 euros in June, July and August, with which you can use all buses and trains throughout Germany in local and regional transport. The federal government should compensate for the loss of income. The project is part of the relief package with which the coalition is reacting to the sharp rise in energy prices. At the same time, it is a “huge opportunity” for climate-friendly mobility, explained Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) at the final plenary debate. From his point of view, the 9-euro ticket is already a success: “The whole of Germany is talking about local public transport.” In addition, the project is also recognized internationally.
For the same three-month period, the Bundestag decided to reduce the energy tax on motor fuels to the minimum permitted in the EU. In the case of petrol, the tax burden is temporarily reduced by 29.55 cents per liter – including VAT even by almost 35.2 cents. With diesel, there is a minus of a good 14 cents per liter or 16.7 cents with VAT.
The opposition, on the other hand, stuck to their criticism: CDU MP Michael Donth spoke of an “expensive experiment”. He called for an “additional payment obligation” to compensate for the skyrocketing costs of bus and train companies. Wolfgang Wiehle from the AfD warned of a “failed party” at the end of which the bankruptcy of many medium-sized companies threatened. The left voted for the 9-euro ticket, but the project doesn’t actually go far enough for their long-time party leader Bernd Riexinger: “Three months is simply not enough.”