The Left is demanding 470 euros in energy aid per citizen through excess profits tax

In an action plan with measures against rising energy prices, the Left in the Bundestag is calling for aid of 470 euros for citizens. “In addition to annual climate money of around 320 euros, we demand that energy crisis money of 150 euros be paid out to all citizens as quickly as possible,” says the paper, which is available to the Editorial Network Germany (RND).

"This would immediately alleviate the greatest hardship. The payment should be counted as additional income in the tax return. Those who have the least and are not taxable would benefit the most." The expenses should be counter-financed by an excess profits tax, it goes on to say - with an increased tax rate of 50 percent.

The parliamentary group leader Heidi Reichinnek told the RND: "The fact that Friedrich Merz announced, just before two important state elections, that he wanted to do something about the high fuel prices shows one thing very clearly: he is not concerned about the people who have been suffering from fuel prices for months, but about the election result of his party and ultimately about his own skin."

Reichinnek also criticized the fact that Merz did not present a “concrete proposal”, “but instead started a happy debate within the coalition, which, as usual in the Merz government, was carried out through the public”. This makes it clear how far the Chancellor is “from people’s everyday concerns.” She emphasized: “There must finally be an end to large international corporations exploiting people and enriching themselves from state budgets.” If their profits remain untouched, there will be no real relief for the majority.