These latest anti-inflation measures exceed 65 billion.
Correspondent in Berlin
Bonuses for retirees and students, taxation of undue corporate profits, reduced-price transport tickets, putting climate targets on hold… The German government announced on Sunday new measures intended to protect consumers in the face of rising energy bills and prices.
A sum of 65 billion euros will finance what is similar to the third and largest package of measures adopted by the tripartite coalition. Two aid plans had already been granted, in February, on the eve of the war, then at the end of May, for a cumulative sum of 35 billion euros. So much so that to date the overall bill has reached 95 billion euros.
Business taxation
“We will not leave anyone by the side of the road”, promised Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose program, beyond the exceptional resources committed, aims to perpetuate previous measures. The most modest households are privileged. Thus, the bonus of 100 euros granted for each child is replaced by a general increase in family allowances of 18 euros, effective from 1is January, plus a boost for low-income families.
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According to a political tradition established in Germany, the three partners of the coalition have rubbed shoulders with the art of compromise, while releasing a common philosophy adapted to times of crisis. Thus, priority to all auto “, long fought by the Greens, is abandoned. Already, the subsidized drop in the price at the pump ended, across the Rhine, on Thursday.
Instead, subsidies for the use of public transport are favored but largely reduced in order to satisfy the liberals, supporters of budgetary orthodoxy: the budget of 2.5 billion euros – which allowed during the three summer months to finance the universal ticket at 9 euros – increases to 1.5 billion euros and will not be released before the 1is January.
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Similarly, the Greens are resigning themselves to a partial standby of the fight against climate change: the increase of 5 euros per ton in the price of CO2as part of the emissions trading system developed by the pre-war coalition, was postponed to 1is January 2024. “Climate protection must not be forgotten”, recalled the leader of the Greens in the Bundestag, Omid Nouripour.
Finally, the coalition agreed on the principle of corporate taxation – very targeted – also debated in France. Today, energy producers who supply electricity from coal, nuclear and renewables – and not from gas, whose prices are skyrocketing – benefit de facto from lower production costs and, therefore, make higher profits.
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Recently, the European Union has been discussing the principle of a financial contribution applicable to these companies. If the community debate should not succeed, Berlin would implement this measure unilaterally, indicated the Minister of Finance, Christian Lindner. The operation could release “several tens of billions of euros”. “Germany’s turn to tax superprofits”, immediately tweeted the French deputy of La France insoumise Manon Aubry. This interpretation is rejected by the very liberal Christian Lindner, who denies any idea of a tax levy on profits.
His French counterpart, Bruno Le Maire, sees on the contrary in the figures announced by Berlin a“Franco-German convergence”quantitative aid plans. Between October 2021 and the end of 2023, Paris and Berlin should have spent around 2.7% of their respective GDPs respectively, explains Bercy.