Berlin Left Party Demands Fuel Subsidy for Small Businesses and Cheaper Public Transport
Berlin, April 7 – Elif Eralp, the lead candidate for the Berlin Left Party in the upcoming House of Representatives election, has called for measures to offset the rising costs of petrol and diesel. Her proposals include a targeted fuel subsidy for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and a more affordable Deutschlandticket to ease the financial burden on Berliners.
Speaking to Tagesspiegel, Eralp stated, “If you really want to provide relief, you have to start where people are.” She emphasized the need for practical solutions that directly impact the daily lives of citizens.
Criticism of Governing Mayor Kai Wegner’s Proposals
Eralp also criticized the Governing Mayor and CDU state leader, Kai Wegner, for his approach to the issue. “We are tackling the problems and making concrete proposals that work in everyday life. Mr. Wegner, on the other hand, relies on demands that sound good but ultimately change nothing,” she said.
Last week, Wegner had described the high fuel prices as unacceptable and called on the federal government for a price cap, similar to Poland, and a temporary suspension of the CO₂ tax to reduce prices in the short term.
Targeted Relief vs. Blanket Measures
Eralp, however, advocates for targeted relief rather than broad, untargeted measures. “Berlin must help those who need it,” she asserted. “The Governing Mayor’s demand for a fuel price cap is convenient. It costs Berlin nothing, will ultimately not materialize, and does not help those who need it most,” Eralp explained.
She highlighted that while many people use public transport, certain professions have no alternative but to use vehicles. “Many people travel by bus and train, but others simply have no choice: craft businesses, care workers, and delivery services depend on their vehicles just as others depend on an elevator,” Eralp noted. “They need targeted support – for example, a temporary fuel subsidy for commercially used vehicles of small and medium-sized businesses.” She suggested that such a subsidy could be processed unbureaucratically through tax returns or the Chamber of Crafts.
Call for a More Affordable Deutschlandticket
In addition to fuel subsidies, Eralp is pushing for a reduction in public transport ticket prices. “For the majority, a cheaper Deutschlandticket is needed. 63 euros a month is simply too much for many Berliners,” she argued. “The nine-euro ticket in 2022 proved that lower prices encourage people to use trains.”
Eralp urged Berlin to take the lead on the Deutschlandticket and, in collaboration with metropolitan regions such as Munich and Frankfurt am Main, push for a maximum price of 49 euros per month. She calculated the financial feasibility, stating, “With one to one and a half million users, that would be 14 to 21 million euros per month – less than 0.1 percent of Berlin’s budget of around 45 billion euros.” Eralp concluded, “That is feasible. And it is long overdue.”
Source: dts Nachrichtenagentur
