SPD Chief Lars Klingbeil Urges Party to Cap Energy Prices Before Election
With recent jobless numbers in mind, SPD chief Lars Klingbeil has urged the party to cap energy prices in the Bundestag, together with the SPD, before the federal election. “I cannot accept that Friedrich Merz says: Now it’s election time, and nothing will be decided” Klingbeil told the “Rheinische Post” (Saturday edition).
“The offer to cap energy prices and thus lower energy costs is on the table. This would help companies concretely and secure jobs in this country” the SPD chief said. “We can pass this problem-free in the Bundestag before the election.”
The job market situation is becoming increasingly dire. “People are currently sitting down to dinner, worrying about their job and what they’ve built up. These people don’t have time to wait for the next five months until a new government is in office” Klingbeil said.
When asked why the traffic light coalition did not lower energy prices, the SPD chairman said: “We did a lot in government to make energy prices fall, think of the energy price brakes after the outbreak of the war against Ukraine. At the same time, it’s clear that more needs to happen, and we in the SPD have been pushing for this for a long time” Klingbeil said.
He apparently holds the former coalition partner FDP responsible for the lack of relief. “We have been watching the FDP’s show in the last few months, and it’s clear that the Liberals no longer wanted political compromises” Klingbeil said. “But the CDU must also ask itself whether it’s only because of the election that it’s allowing jobs to be lost. We must now do what’s necessary to support the economy. I will not rest in the fight for jobs a single day.”
The weak economy in Germany has driven unemployment to its highest level since 2015. The number of unemployed rose by 178,000 to 2.787 million in the annual average of 2024, as reported by the Federal Employment Agency on Friday.