Cheerfully continue with the 9-euro ticket

Volker Wissing

The nine-euro ticket, which costs around one billion euros a month, is the smaller item in the government’s many costs.

(Photo: IMAGO/Hartenfelser)

Berlin. Well then: Transport Minister Wissing from the FDP is now open to somehow continuing the field test for the nine-euro ticket – and not ending it at the end of August as planned. Whether the 2.5 billion euros in federal tax money was well invested is irrelevant to the decision.

It’s about what Foreign Minister Baerbock said in July about the gas turbine for the Nord Stream I pipeline, which was stuck in Canada at the time: If no more gas flows, then “popular uprisings” threaten.

Even if the Green politician may have exaggerated and gas continues to flow: Fear is gnawing at all parties. Gas customers will soon be paying twice as much and, on top of that, a surcharge for stumbling importers.

The retail trade complains about less sales. There is talk of recession. Inflation remains high. If the price of fuel were to rise again from September and with it the local transport ticket: the Ukraine war would find its way into the purse of the German Michel and would put solidarity with the Eastern European state to the test.

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In the situation, the coalition will remain true to itself and want to help everyone. The SPD, Greens and FDP should decide on the next relief package in their next coalition committee by the end of the month at the latest.

Bundeswehr, Deutsche Bahn – and soon local transport?

So the crisis remains a matter for the Federal Minister of Finance for the time being. He’ll have to pass on the bill sooner or later. The nine-euro ticket, which costs around one billion euros a month, is still the smaller item.

Regional train Deutsche Bahn

Irrespective of this, billions are once again flowing into the loss-making local transport, but unfortunately not into new routes for the vehicles.

(Photo: dpa)

Continuing it for the time being would have at least one small advantage: it would show whether more people are really switching from cars to public transport. Or whether it made it possible for those on a tight budget in particular to dream of traveling to a vacation spot in the country in the summer.

Irrespective of this, billions are once again flowing into the loss-making local transport, but unfortunately not into new routes for the vehicles. Instead, the already insufficient market-based revenue from the tickets continues to erode. So the system slides completely into the political planned economy – for which, curiously enough, the federal government pays far more than those responsible themselves: states and municipalities.

Finance Minister Christian Lindner knows why he doesn’t want to permanently subsidize ticket prices for local transport: After the Bundeswehr and Deutsche Bahn, it would be the third major permanent item – not to mention social spending.

More: “Mothers’ pension was watering can policy” – CDU Vice Linnemann settles accounts with Angela Merkel

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