Erfurt (dpa/th) - The head of the CDU parliamentary group, Mario Voigt, is not only demanding financial relief for citizens from the federal government in view of the sharp rise in energy prices. The country, which receives higher VAT revenue as a result, must also give money back to the citizens, for example for a heat guarantee in winter. That said Voigt on Tuesday in the summer interview of MDR Thuringia. "The state must not be the beneficiary of higher energy prices."
Voigt advocated investing the country's forecast additional tax revenue of around 400 million euros this year in an energy security fund. The money could be used to provide and finance a "heat guarantee" for citizens and the economy. This can ensure that the Thuringians receive a basic supply of heat in the cold season, regardless of price developments.
The practical implementation of the proposal must be clarified in talks with municipal utilities and other energy suppliers. Voigt said he was expecting concrete definitions from the state government's forthcoming round table on the development of energy prices.
The chairman of the largest opposition faction in the Thuringian state parliament reiterated his criticism of the red-red-green state government, which he accused of deadlock policy. He ruled out future cooperation between the CDU and both the left and the AfD.
