Energy crisis and inflation: Lindner against further relief

Generate first, then distribute: In view of the aid measures that have already been decided, Finance Minister Lindner sees no chance of new relief for the citizens. One had already “gone to the limit”.

Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner sees no financial scope for further relief for citizens in the coming year. With the agreed price brakes and tax measures, the government has already “reached the limit,” he told the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”. “I will not cross them.”

In the interview, the FDP politician pointed out that up to 200 billion euros will be used for price controls and hardship aid in the coming years. In addition, 50 billion euros in tax relief for citizens have been made possible by 2024. “We will therefore have an enormous general government financing deficit in the coming year.”

“Refound social prosperity”

In the long term, however, Germany must reestablish its social prosperity, said Lindner. “We are becoming poorer collectively. We must therefore strengthen our competitiveness so that our economy is able to pay higher wages by selling higher-quality products and services.” But first it has to be earned before it can be distributed.

The federal government had recently decided on numerous reliefs for companies and citizens because the prices, especially for energy, have risen significantly since the start of the Ukraine war in February. For example, price brakes for electricity and gas are to be introduced. They are intended to cushion the consequences of the sharp rise in prices for consumers and companies. The brakes are to apply to private households and small and medium-sized companies from March, with retrospective relief planned for January and February.