Magdeburg (dpa/sa) - Saxony-Anhalt's Energy Minister Armin Willingmann has praised the new aid package to relieve high energy prices. "I expressly welcome the end of the gas levy and the planned defense shield," said the SPD politician on Thursday of the German Press Agency. "Private households and companies will be noticeably relieved. I expect that the protective shield will now be tightened in the short term so that the effects can take effect as soon as possible. This will be decisive for calming those affected and the markets."
As Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) announced in Berlin on Thursday, consumers and companies are to be supported with a new "defense shield" of up to 200 billion euros. The gas levy, which was controversial until recently, is off the table - there should be a gas price brake for that.
FDP parliamentary group leader Andreas Silbersack also praised the federal government's agreement. "This is encouraging news, especially for eastern Germany. The procurement of replacements for failed Russian deliveries at market prices would have hit home in particular," explained Silbersack.
