Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst is demanding relief from the federal government by means of a gas price brake from the beginning of next year. "In January of all days, one of the coldest months, the traffic light government is tearing a gap in support," the CDU politician told the newspapers of the Funke media group (Friday).
In the federal states, there is a cross-party consensus: "This is a mistake that needs to be corrected. It would be right to put the gas price brake into effect at the turn of the year," said Wüst. If that is not possible, there must be another, clear signal of relief - retrospectively if necessary. "In January as well as in February, people and companies need reliable protection against the existential burden of high energy prices," he said.
The gas price brake should take effect from March, but the federal government is examining retrospective relief as of February 1st. On Thursday evening, the Bundestag also wanted to decide on emergency aid for gas and district heating customers worth billions, which is intended as a bridging measure until the gas price brake takes effect.
