Relief: Social organizations see a need for improvement – politics
In view of the energy crisis, the federal government is providing billions in relief and soon millions of people will be able to use local public transport for significantly less money than before. The so-called Germany ticket for 49 euros a month is to be introduced as early as January. The federal government is also increasing its aid for taking in refugees. After the prime ministers’ conference, there was a lot of praise for their agreements, but also critical voices – from different quarters. An overview:
Social associations still see a need for improvement in the aid that has been decided for citizens and companies in the energy crisis. Low-income people and people in precarious employment must be given more consideration, warned Diakonie President Ulrich Lilie. Gas and electricity price brakes are useful instruments for planning security. However, the planned down payments for gas and district heating are “a step backwards” because everyone benefits from them “from the millionaire to the Hartz IV recipient”. In view of the financial situation that is threatening for many people, this is “incomprehensible”. Instead, it needs targeted aid payments to help the poorest people “quickly and unbureaucratically”.
Of the Social Association Germany was disappointed that no agreement could be reached on a general energy price brake that includes forms of heating such as oil. the gas price brake March 2023 will be too late, added CEO Michaela Engelmeier. The capping of the electricity price to 30 cents per kilowatt hour relieves “only a few at the moment – it is only to be understood as a future border line.”
Engelmeier also criticized the Deutschlandticket. It is good that there should be a follow-up regulation for the nine-euro ticket. “Nevertheless, we stick to the fact that not everyone can afford 49 euros,” said Engelmeier. “That’s why we’re still asking for a 365-euro ticket. One euro a day for mobility, that would really be socially acceptable.” Left parliamentary group leader Dietmar Bartsch also complained that the 49-euro ticket was too expensive for many low-income households.
Saxony’s Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) is critical of the financing of the ticket and the future of local public transport, despite higher subsidies from the federal government. In public transport, enormous cost increases, for example for energy, ensure “that the money is not enough,” says Kretschmer. Routes would be thinned out or shut down. “This money has to be on the table first.” The federal government has promised a part, but that is not enough. “Of the federal government was the 49-euro ticket, this symbol, even more important, there is money there now. I think that’s the wrong order.” But you have to deal with it now.
It is important to the cities that a nationwide 49-euro ticket is combined with better transport, he said President of the German Association of Cities, Markus Lewe. However, both cannot be done with the funds made available. “There is a further threat that timetables will have to be thinned out – the turnaround in traffic threatens to end up on the sidelines,” said the CDU politician and mayor of Münster to the German Press Agency.
On the other hand, there was praise from Deutsche Bahn: Board member Evelyn Palla Called the so-called Deutschlandticket a “flat rate for regional transport”https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/.”We are revolutionizing the way people in Germany get around in everyday life,” said Palla. Travelers could use it to board any regional train or bus nationwide – without having to worry about tariff or national borders. Of the General German Automobile Club (ADAC) sees the 49-euro ticket as suitable for getting more commuters to switch to buses and trains because it is a long-term decision. The traffic club also suggested checking whether long-distance buses could also be included in the ticket.
City Council President Lewe meanwhile criticizes the billions in aid for the reception of refugees, which he believes are not sufficient. In addition, no funds are provided for the integration of people in the package. The challenges grow every day. More and more people are coming to Germany from Ukraine and other countries. Of the Chief Executive of the German Association of Towns and Municipalities, Gerd Landsberg, demanded of the countries in the Rheinische Post “significantly more capacity in initial reception facilities and collective accommodation”. Also the President of the German District Association, Reinhard Sager, expressed himself and asked the editorial network Germany that the federal states pass on the funds made available by the federal government to the municipalities.
