From energy to mandatory vaccinations: where the traffic lights crunch

High energy prices, compulsory vaccination, basic corona protection: In the coalition committee there is a lot to clarify for the traffic light leaders in the afternoon. The most important points of contention at a glance.

The heads of the traffic light coalition want to discuss today in the coalition committee how they can relieve people of the high energy prices. The ideas of the government partners differ – not only on this issue.

expensive energy

Electricity, heating, petrol – energy is currently expensive. Therefore, according to SPD leader Lars Klingbeil, the coalition wants to launch a “comprehensive relief package”. Among other things, the EEG surcharge on electricity earlier than the originally planned date of January 1, 2023 – when exactly is unclear. The FDP is stepping up the pace, the SPD and the Greens are more cautious.

The FDP also demands that commuter allowance to raise Some SPD politicians also support this. The Greens, on the other hand, refuse with reference to climate protection. Both CO2 costs the tenants should be relieved. The price for climate-damaging emissions in the building sector is currently being paid by them alone; the coalition plans a division between tenants and landlords. Here, too, the time frame is unclear: the SPD insists on a new regulation on June 1, as stated in the coalition agreement, but the FDP has meanwhile declared that January 1, 2023 is not feasible until January 1, 2023.

So far, only the cabinet has decided heating allowance for recipients of housing benefit, students with student loans and trainees with training money.

Corona basic protection

All far-reaching corona requirements are to expire on March 19th. The Bundestag must amend the Infection Protection Act in good time so that certain requirements such as compulsory masks on buses and trains or compulsory tests in certain facilities are still possible afterwards.

SPD, Greens and FDP have different opinions as to which measures are still needed. The FDP last insisted on “normality” from March 20th.

compulsory vaccination

Chancellor Olaf Scholz would like to make corona vaccination compulsory for all adults – but due to disagreement in his government there is no separate draft law.

FDP Vice Wolfgang Kubicki advanced with an application that should exclude compulsory vaccination. In the meantime, there are also two draft laws – for compulsory vaccination from the age of 18 and for compulsory advice and later compulsory vaccination from the age of 50, each of which is supported by various politicians from the three traffic light groups. There is no sign of coalition unity on this issue – whether there will ultimately be a vaccination requirement at all is an open question.

Emissions limit values ​​for combustion engines

Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) and Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) are at odds here on the question of which position Germany should represent at EU level. Lemke advocates tightening the fleet limit values ​​beyond the plans of the EU Commission and setting a binding end date for combustion engines from 2035.

Wissing insists that from 2035 vehicles that run on synthetic fuels (e-fuels) may also be registered. Intermediate targets for reducing emissions from cars are also controversial. The responsible EU ministers want to discuss the issue at the beginning of March.

household

Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner has already publicly urged his colleagues to exercise moderation. The FDP leader wants to have the revised budget for 2022 and key figures for 2023 adopted in the cabinet on March 9th. For the current year, the old federal government had budgeted 100 billion euros in new debt – Lindner probably does not want to exceed this sum.

Next year he wants to comply with the debt brake again. Both are a challenge in view of the many traffic light projects and spending requests from the departments.