SAARBRUCKEN (dpa-AFX) – Saarland Prime Minister Tobias Hans (CDU) calls for an immediate fuel price brake in view of new record values at the gas stations. “The breakthrough of the two-euro barrier at the pump is an impertinence for everyone who is professionally dependent on their motor vehicle. An immediate fuel price brake is needed here,” he told the German Press Agency in Saarbrücken on Monday. Because of the “rapid rise in prices”, energy taxes would have to be temporarily reduced.
In addition, there is a need for a short-term reduction in VAT on fuel prices. “What was done in the Corona crisis with VAT must also be possible in an energy price crisis in order to relieve people,” said Hans. Of course, one thing is clear: “In the medium to long term, we have to adapt to rising energy prices. Climate protection is not available for free. However, the current gas, fuel and electricity price increases are in no way proportionate.”
According to Hans, what the federal government recently presented as a relief package “is far from enough to prevent imbalances far into the middle class”. Normal earners and skilled workers are already far too burdened. “It’s unacceptable that rising energy prices, especially in rural areas, mean that people have to think about how they can get to work in the future or take their children to football training because they can no longer afford the gas prices.” /rtt/DP/eas