Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) presented his new relief package to the heads of government of the federal states on Friday, as well as the burdens associated with the partial takeover of the gas group Uniper. Bremen's Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte (SPD) was present at the short video conference call with the Chancellor.
WORLD: Mr. Bovenschulte, are the measures announced by the Chancellor sufficient to get through the winter, maybe even over the coming year?
Andreas Bovenschulte: That depends crucially on how the housing allowance amendment is specifically designed. What income limits should apply, for example, for housing benefit and heating allowance. All measures must have one goal: We want to take away people's existential worries. Livelihood worries that have long since reached the middle class. Something will also have to be done for students who are not entitled to housing benefit as Bafög recipients.
Basically, I think it's right that the problem is now being tackled in a targeted and systematic manner and no longer with one-off payments based on the watering can principle, such as with energy money.
WORLD: You have campaigned for the continuation of the aid in the area of mobility, for example for a permanent establishment of at least the principle of the 9-euro ticket. Is this aspect missing from the Chancellor's announcement?
Bovenschulte: The 9-euro ticket has been very well received, and mobility costs are also costs that people have to bear. I therefore think it makes sense to find a follow-up regulation for this. The Bremen SPD has proposed a 365-euro annual ticket. That would be a sensible compromise between what is desirable and what can be financed by taxpayers in the long run.
WORLD: The chancellor did not mention an increase in the commuter allowance either. Shouldn't the state also help those who depend on cars during the crisis?
Bovenschulte: The overall package has to be right. However, the promotion of public transport should have priority for reasons of climate protection. In the end everything has to be paid for. Bremen has submitted corresponding proposals for financing ...
WORLD: An excess profit tax for companies that are particularly benefiting from the crisis. There was no majority for them in the Bundesrat, and the chancellor isn't particularly committed either.
Bovenschulte: Because the FDP in particular, but also the Union, have touched concrete. Although both are also calling for relief, they have not submitted any financing proposals. Yet two things are clear. Firstly, we must ensure that neither people nor companies find themselves in existential distress during this crisis. Secondly, it costs money, a lot of money. Money that is either financed through new debt or by putting a heavier burden on strong shoulders than on weak shoulders – for example through an excess profit tax. Rejecting both is not a serious policy.
WORLD: Scholz also announced that all gas customers, including private households, should contribute to the rescue of the gas company Uniper with a contribution – right?
Bovenschulte: The exorbitantly rising gas prices are a real problem. And there are only two ways to pass on these price increases and avoid a company bankruptcy with unforeseeable consequences. Either, only the customers of the affected company suffer. Or, you socialize the problem and distribute the costs among all gas customers. I think the second way is better - always assuming that appropriate relief measures protect those who cannot pay the higher energy prices.
WORLD: Uniper is not the only utility company that has these financing problems. Many municipal suppliers are also at risk. What is Bremen like?
Bovenschulte: Bremen privatized its public utilities years ago. In this respect, we as a municipality are not directly affected. But one thing is clear: this rescue package, which the federal government is now opening, must of course not only protect Uniper and other corporations, but must also have an effect on municipal public utilities and smaller private utilities.
WORLD: What would happen in a city like Bremen if there was an acute gas shortage?
Bovenschulte: I hope that we will be able to avoid exactly that. Nevertheless, we are of course also preparing for the worst case, i.e. not having enough gas. Such a situation would raise very difficult distribution issues, which ultimately would have to be answered by the Federal Network Agency. But we also look at the specific situation in Bremen.
WORLD: And how is it?
Bovenschulte: The hospitals, for example, are mainly supplied with district heating, which in turn is mainly fed by waste incineration plants. Luckily we are largely independent of gas, these clinics can also be heated without gas. Because you're asking about the worst case: In the event that there really isn't enough gas available in winter, we identify public buildings that are also heated with district heating. We could then offer these to people who can no longer heat their homes as warm rooms. As I said, a scenario that we hope and are working on will not occur.
WORLD: Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) warned of “popular uprisings” in a pointed statement in the event of an acute gas shortage. How seriously do you have to take comments like that?
Bovenschulte: I'm convinced that in an emergency we would be able to cope with such a gas shortage in solidarity. However, only under two conditions. For one thing, people need to be convinced that we have done everything we can to prevent a gas shortage. On the other hand, we have to distribute the unavoidable burdens fairly. As soon as there are people who can buy their way out of all problems, we get a social division that has washed away. Solidarity is and remains the raw material for overcoming this crisis.
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