Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) indicated that, given the rise in energy costs, there is no feasible way to direct aid more precisely to households with low incomes. According to a report by the “Rheinische Post” (Wednesday edition), citing participants at the CDU parliamentary group meeting on Tuesday, Merz stated, “It must be stated simply, we do not have the mechanism for that. It isn’t possible”. While acknowledging a supposed direct payment mechanism at the Federal Office for Finance and Tax, which falls under the Federal Ministry of Finance, Merz reportedly noted that this office currently only possesses about one-fifth of the necessary data covering private households. He emphasized that a comprehensive record is required. In relation to this, the Chancellor is reported to have criticized Monika Schnitzer, the chairwoman of the Economic Advisory Council. Merz supposedly added that if the head of the expert advisory council speaks to the media and accuses the government of lacking enough targeted action, he stated, “I must honestly say that I expect the chairwoman of an expert advisory council to know that such an instrument is not available. This body is for advising the government, not for constantly educating the government in the public sphere”.
Merkel’s Opponent Sees No Way for Targeted Aid to Low-Income Households
