Gas, fuel, groceries and many everyday goods – everyday life in Germany is becoming more and more expensive. Consumers are fighting for every euro, and high inflation is hitting even middle-income people hard. Ironically, relief could now come from the often hated broadcasting contribution – at least the CSU wants it that way.
GEZ break: CSU wants to relieve consumers of broadcasting fees
Only a few months ago, the belated and contested increase in the broadcasting fee – formerly GEZ – was once again on everyone’s lips. Since then, the cost has been raised currently 18.36 euros per month. Every German household is obliged to pay, whether you watch ARD, ZDF and Co. or not. You can only be exempted from this under certain exceptions.
But right now, in times when fuel and heating costs are also becoming more expensive, and inflation has just climbed to a new record, the debit is particularly painful. The CSU wants to change that. “Many Germans have problems financing their everyday expenses. The federal and state governments should therefore suspend the license fee for three months to relieve people“Stefan Müller, parliamentary director of the CSU parliamentary group, told t-online.
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Will the broadcasting fee be suspended?
That would mean anyway a plus of 55.08 euros on the account for all contributors for this period. “There is significant savings potential in radio programs, but with the ever-increasing prices for everyday goods, saving is no longer an option,” Müller continued.
The break in contributions should also be used to think about staggering the broadcasting contribution. So could rectify existing injustices. So far, all households in Germany have been obliged to pay, regardless of the number of people or receivers per household.
The opinions of the GIGA editorial team on the broadcast contribution:
However, it is questionable whether there will be a break for the broadcast contribution. A reform is politically demanded from many quarters, but there is seldom agreement on exactly how it should look like. On the other hand, in the past few weeks, agreement has been reached unusually quickly on the previous measures to relieve the burden on citizens.
Because of the high energy prices, the government is already planning a one-time subsidy of up to 300 euros. There should also be a 9-euro ticket for public transport.