Elif Eralp, the leading candidate for the Berlin Left party, is calling for targeted relief measures to offset rising gasoline and diesel prices. Speaking to the Tagesspiegel, she asserted that genuine support must be directed to those most affected, suggesting a fuel subsidy for small and medium-sized enterprises alongside a more affordable Deutschlandticket to ease the financial burden on Berlin’s residents.
The leftist politician also criticized Berlin’s governing mayor and CDU state leader, Kai Wegner. Eralp dismissed Wegner’s proposals as sounding good but ultimately lacking real impact, stating that the Left party is proposing concrete, actionable policies. This followed Wegner’s previous week’s demands for a price cap on fuel-similar to Poland’s system-and the suspension of the CO2 tax to cushion the short-term cost increases.
In contrast to Wegner’s broad requests, Eralp advocates for specific support rather than a general handout. She argued that Berlin must assist those who truly require it, pointing out that while some people can use public transport, certain groups-such as tradespeople, care workers, and delivery services-are entirely dependent on their vehicles, much like others rely on elevators. Therefore, she proposed a flexible fuel subsidy, perhaps administered through tax returns or local chambers of craftsmanship, specifically for commercially used vehicles belonging to small and medium businesses.
In addition to energy costs, Eralp focused on lowering transport ticket prices, arguing that a cheaper Deutschlandticket is essential for the majority of Berliners, as the current €63 monthly price is unaffordable for many. She cited the success of the Nine-Euro ticket in 2022 as proof that lower fares boost ridership. Eralp urged Berlin to take the lead on the Deutschlandticket, pushing towards a maximum of €49 per month in collaboration with other major metropolitan areas like Munich and Frankfurt. She calculated that this initiative, covering an estimated one to one-and-a-half million users, would cost between €14 and €21 million monthly-a fraction of the Berlin budget-and stressed that such a measure was both feasible and long overdue.