Philipp Türmer, the chief of the SPD’s youth wing (Juso), has urged a price cut on the Deutschlandticket in response to the sharp rise in fuel prices. He told the newspapers of the Funke Media Group – specifically the Saturday editions – that commuters are feeling the impact from two fronts. “Gas stations are being gouged by oil companies that shamelessly turn the current situation into extra profits. And for those who want to switch to public transport, the Deutschlandticket is now significantly more expensive than it was a few years ago” Türmer said.
The issue hits apprentices and recent graduates especially hard, according to Türmer. “People who are just starting their careers live on entry-level wages and apprenticeship stipends and still need to get to work reliably every day” he added. “We need two things: a fuel price cap to relieve the burden at the pump, and a substantially cheaper Deutschlandticket”. He framed the demand as a matter of economic and social participation rather than a luxury.
Türmer cited the 9‑Euro‑ticket experience to illustrate the effect of affordable fares. “When the ticket was only 9 € a month, millions of people who had avoided public transport before began to use it” he said. “That wasn’t accidental – it was the result of a price that made real mobility possible for everyone”. He noted that he had previously advocated for capping fuel prices, emphasizing that the evidence shows what works.