German motorists welcomed lower prices at the pump with relief, thanks to a tax rebate (AFP/Archives/Ina FASSBENDER)
German motorists welcomed Wednesday with relief the fall in prices at the pump, thanks to a tax rebate decided by the government in the face of inflation, while a monthly subscription of nine euros now allows travel by public transport through the country.
These two flagship measures of the government of Olaf Scholz to reduce household bills are in force for a period of three months.
Thanks to a drop in taxes to the minimum authorized by the EU, the price of petrol is to fall by around 30 cents per litre, that of diesel by 14 cents.
From the first hours of its entry into force, the effect of the measure was significant, noted several motorists interviewed by AFP.
“It’s already cheaper,” rejoices Veronika Scholz, stopped at a station in the capital where diesel displays 1.87 euros and the Super 1.88 euros.
The “9-Euro-ticket”, a fixed monthly subscription that allows travelers to use regional trains as well as all public transport throughout Germany (AFP / Ina FASSBENDER)
“As the prices were high, I only took the bare minimum until now. Since the crisis with Ukraine, I have also been forced to take the bus and the train more,” explains this 48-year-old caregiver. year.
“I’m surprised, I thought the prices would drop slowly,” says Birgit Thoisen behind the checkout, rejoicing in the return of customers.
– Popular trains –
The ADAC automobile club has found that prices have fallen back below two euros per liter in many stations in the country. The day before, the Super was on average at 2.13 euros.
Stephan Behm, a 44-year-old poster painter, did not refuel in the hope that prices will continue to fall: “For that, we would have to monitor energy groups more closely so that they do not get rich thanks to tax relief”.
The German competition authority announced that it would verify that the cut was passed on, but could not compel the companies.
A local train at the main train station in Dortmund, Germany, on June 1, 2022 (AFP/Ina FASSBENDER)
At the same time, a ticket at nine euros per month allows since Wednesday to borrow local and regional public transport throughout Germany until the end of August. Seven million subscriptions have already been sold.
To the point that some fear a saturation of trains, especially on weekends and during holidays.
“I’m afraid there aren’t enough staff and trains,” worries Lydia Vogt, 35, interviewed in Berlin.
Anica Burkhardt, a 21-year-old student, plans to return to Bremen (north-west) with the nine-euro ticket.
“It’s longer, six hours, but cheaper. It’s good that fewer cars are used, but the regional trains are already very full and they will probably be even more”, she underlines.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz acknowledged Wednesday before the Bundestag that the problem of inflation, which reached a new record high of 7.9% over one year in May, was “not solved” by his measures. Germany has already released some 30 billion euros to relieve households in the face of price increases aggravated by the war in Ukraine.
© 2022 AFP
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