Peter Boehringer, October 21, 2022, Shadow Budget and Energy

German Bundestag, Plenarprotokoll 20/64, pp. 7272-7273.

The government today still says nothing in the last reading of its draft law of how the planned economy, guaranteed to be highly bureaucratic and never to be legally implemented gas price caps should be installed. Who receives money? Which prices prices will be where capped? How will the operative be implemented? All of this in the first months will be regulated by decree. The draft law put forward is simply not ready for a decision.

A test question for you all, whether you have even read the laughably brief business plan contained in a law for the 200 billion euro fund: How much money does it foresee for the announced December payments? Now, I say to you: Here is exactly zero euros. The same for the gas price brake, the electricity price brake and additional support measures: Not a euro. Frau Esdar, one cannot block what is in fact not in the business plan. That simply does not work. There is nothing here to block. We have nothing, in any case not for 2022. And yet the Bundestag shall today agree that 200 billion euros in new debts shall be stowed in reserves in a purposeless, moreover completely undefined shadow budget. It would be absurd to bestow upon the government such a blank check.

The only correct way for such a law would be a 2022 supplementary budget for the really quite small sum which, as the planned December energy payment, will in fact be payed out to people and businesses. The Finance Minister – not present – nevertheless wants to put more than 20 times that in the 2022 budget, which then brings his twelve month balance of new indebtedness to a round 500 billion euros. And the Federal Audit Authority, as exactly for years the AfD, has stated: The accounting trick of the accumulation of reserves is very likely unconstitutional. – We say: It is unconstitutional.

The 200 billion euros is not required for 2022.Your appropriation today in the WSF [economic stabilization fund] serves only to get around the debt brake which at present is by luck still set aside. What at all is that? On this point also, the Union is dishonest; since the Grand Coalition still lead by the Union in 2021 found an additional trick whereby credits only in the year making the credit will accounted for in the debt brake, which in the Corona time was practically set aside and today still is. Luckily these tricks are now finally in Karlsruhe. Return to the law. That goes for all.

Our motion [Drucksache 20/4094] to be voted on today gives to you the opportunity for a careful budgeting of the required monies. Simply vote for it! Then the people and businesses who suffer under the present false policy can be assisted. For a merely symptomatic alleviation with tax money of the world’s dumbest energy policy, the shadow sums are much too high. Required is the causal aversion [ursächliche Abwenden] from the existentially dangerous energy emergency. We say this for months; even before the Ukraine war we have said this. In regards energy themes, finally listen to the rational voice of the AfD.

Hearty thanks.

            Otto Fricke (FDP): I find speeches with lace finish always good!

 

 

[trans: tem]

 

 

Tino Chrupalla, October 20, 2022, Germany and Europe

German Bundestag, Plenarprotokoll 20/63, pp. 7046-7048.

Right honorable Frau President. Right honorable ladies and gentlemen. Dear countrymen.

Let me first remember the two dead tradesmen in Ludwigshafen who two days ago were murdered by a Somali. – Frau Haßelmann, that hurts. – I wish the families and those left behind much strength, I wish the wounded a rapid healing. This is meanwhile normality in Germany.

Let us come to the European Council which today and tomorrow meets in Brussels to deal with Russia’s war in the Ukraine as well as its effects on the energy prices and the economy in Europe; so says the title. On one side, the explosive power of an energy crisis seems to have sunk in. On the other side, here again cause and effect are confused. One answer to the crisis is to be in any case the so-called gas price cap; we hear and read it thus. Yet here many questions remain open: Can Germany’s energy and supply security be guaranteed? Are we in common purchasing adequate quantities? How will be the distribution ratio – according to need? How much more does procurement in common cost the taxpayer in comparison to national procurement? To this the Chancellor today provides no answers. To secure the energy supply in common with the European states can be a way if Germany needs no longer to invest, if Germany was in good contact with all European partners, and not in part at war. The continent of Europe has at its disposal sufficient energy reserves so as to take care of itself. It would thus be not at all necessary to purchase additional, expensive and dirty fracking gas. Yet for that is required an infrastructure which is also secured by the community.

In this connection, I ask you, Herr Chancellor: Where are the investigation results for the sabotage attacks of Nord Stream 1 and 2? I already asked you a week ago. You have said in the last week that these will soon be put forward. Now Sweden refuses to name the details of the investigation. I ask you: Does that correspond to a trustworthy process in the European community? Do friends deal with us thusly?

We had and have with the Nord Stream pipelines the opportunity as Germany to secure, sovereign and at good value, our energy supply. Even so, parts of Europe could besides be served. We have always aspired to that the German government needs to keep open options, options to keep itself capable of action so that the prosperity of the economy, of industry and thereby that of the people are secured. All of this you put in play with your self-kindled economic war which is principally directed against us, against our people. Your measures and programs come late and are always again a bad compromise which primarily causes only costs in the long-term for the citizens. For the 200 billion euros in special funds are also new debts which in the end the taxpayers must pay as well. That is the usual game of “left pocket, right pocket”, and it is in addition partly unconstitutional, as the Federal Audit Authority has already declared.  

I have often said: You ineptly bustle about and tinker with the symptoms instead of finally devoting yourself to the causes. And this at present lies in your sanctions policy. You therein really appear to meanwhile develop preferences. Look for once through the values glasses, Frau Baerbock: Which is the next country from which you want to distance yourself?  Here, you quite eagerly take the lead. It is really quite peculiar that exactly out of the party which once stood for openness and tolerance now comes the greatest of schoolmasters. These meanwhile would want to let weapons speak for the enforcement of their so-called values.  

Diplomacy in any case does not belong to your strengths. You show that exactly in the ranks of the Ampel coalition. Among the citizens you earn ever less respect and credibility; that is seen not only in the polling results.

The Economy Minister day by day attests to the consequences of his own policy when he speaks of the high prices for energy, a coming recession and the downfall of the German economy. Here it needs to be said: The policy of Robert Habeck works: He of course is actively anxious that we become a developing country or the problem child of Europe. You should, Herr Habeck, really for once reconsider whether you still fulfill your office for the welfare of the German people, or should better withdraw again into the world of imaginary creatures.

            Sakia Esken (SPD): Frenetic applause!

From Economy Minister to Finance Minister. Herr Lindner, you speak in Dresden to young journeymen where you – you may recall – make jokes about your colleagues Lauterbach and Habeck. A few weeks before you said to the young journeymen there – I cite: We need to do everything that brings down energy prices and discontinue everything that lets energy prices rise.  In such a situation all available capacities need to be kept in the network. Certainly through Easter.

In Dresden, you tell the people what they want to hear, and here in Berlin you make your policy the exact opposite. That is the mendacious policy of the FDP. That is the mendacious policy against the trades and the Mittelstand. And the voters  in Niedersachsen have already recognized that. Here, I can only say to you, dear Herr Lindner: Lies have short legs. You should therefore concern yourself for warm underwear; since soon it is ground frost.

…

With all impossible means, you want to save the Western system of values and economics, and are thereby the commanders of your own downfall. Yet certainly we in Europe need nevertheless make a policy lead by interests for our citizens. The continent of Europe has a strong place in a multipolar world order. We therefore require peace, stability and before all things economic sovereignty. You and your one-sided U.S.-American alignment are the gravediggers of the German economy. We see this every day. For the sake of the people, please finally come to reason! Finally try to put aside your ideological interests!

At the moment, you gamble [verpokern] all capital in favor of a one-sided transatlantic alliance or a new dependency. In any case, your policy is of no use to Germany. You thereby split not only Europe but also the world community. Yet, plainly, business partners believed to be secure turn away and seek new contacts, as for example Saudi Arabia and its plan to enter the BRICS states.  

I therefore demand of you, for credibility in face of our European partners and also of this summit:

First. Concern yourselves as quickly as possible so that the three idled and the three remaining active nuclear power plants secure the energy supply through April 2023. For that, new fuel rods are required.  Besides, this exactly would be the hour of the parliament. We demand an open vote not influenced by the delegations – particularly; since here it is about responsibility. Each member should declare this in his constituency; also, any of those who deny the reality. This is democracy, and this we demand.

Second. Clarify the sabotage attacks on the Nord Stream pipelines. Concern yourselves that the critical infrastructure will be and is protected so that gas will again be delivered through the pipelines to Germany and Europe.

Third. End your values-led sanctions policy and stop the weapons deliveries to the Ukraine. Help to end the war in Europe by means of negotiations.

            Alexander Lambsdorff (FDP): Recite all that in Russian!

And stop playing the vice cops of the entire world, Herr Lambsdorff. Finally act as sovereign for the welfare of our country and for the welfare of our German citizens.

Konstantin von Notz (Greens): My goodness! That is so boring! That is so meaningless, what you say!

Many thanks.

 

[trans: tem]

 

 

 

 

Jörn König, October 14, 2022, Heating: Tax Relief vs Direct Subsidy

German Bundestag, Plenarprotokoll 20/61, pp. 6913-6914. 

Right honorable Frau President. Right honorable colleagues. Dear citizens.

The CDU recently had its national party day with us in Hannover. The principal theme was not about the heating change as in the motion put forward, not Russia’s war, not the energy shortage, not the wave of bankruptcy of many businesses; no, the principal theme was the women’s quota. It succeeded, you passed the introduction of the women’s quota. Congratulations; for thus does the Alternative für Deutschland, free of quotas and discrimination, once again have one more unique position.

            Michael Donth (CDU/CSU): Tätä, tätä, tätä!

You demand in your motion new tax relief for the construction and reconstruction of buildings as well as in regards the establishment of photovoltaic installations. Amazingly, what you do not demand is a women’s quota at construction sites. Generally in recent years, construction and reconstruction have become significantly more expensive. The principal reason for that is the ever more rigid construction guidelines, primarily in the energy area. In addition come further problems like the homemade inflation, the homemade energy crisis by way of power plant disconnections and supply chain problems.

In your motion, you wish to fight the symptoms, the origins of which you yourselves in great part have furnished by tolerance of the ECB debts policy and the atomic withdrawal. With this fight against the symptoms, you reach back to tax advantages; that in our view is false.

Tax advantages in comparison to a direct means of promotion are unfavorable; since the advantages are only remunerative at a far above average income. It is indeed nice that in the first three years a twice as high tax reduction of 40 percent instead of 20 percent shall apply. Yet who really has an income tax burden of 80,000 euros in three years?

The payment of the tax promotion also results clearly later than would be the case with direct subsidies, and only long after the costs fall due. The relief will further only be realized with the tax decision and plainly only partially for most citizens. These tax regulatory arrangements are complicated even for professional people – just what shall Otto Normal Consumer say?

What we need are simple solutions, and that calls for direct promotion of the hardworking citizen who with hard work has built or bought his own home and now must outfit it in terms of energy. To reverse the promotion program was the precisely wrong signal. The new government needs to be thoroughly criticized for that. One of the first measures of Herr Habeck was to stop the promotion program.

The demands in the CDU/CSU delegation’s motion are, for all that, also unsozial; since private persons with a small or moderate income, due to their smaller tax burden, have no opportunities to participate in these tax advantages. Once again: We need the direct promotion of the hardworking citizen who builds his own home or rebuilds in terms of energy. That is the better means to reconstruct as many as possible houses in terms of energy and to equip with photovoltaic.

            Bernhard Herrmann (Greens): Ach, take a look!

One thing was completely forgotten in the motion. It will become increasingly difficult to obtain appropriate, competent skilled labor from the trades [Handwerk] for the energy reconstruction. Already, the planned heating pump offensive is therein failing. We will put forward a motion concerned that expert trades work finally once again pays in this country.

Demand number 5 is sensible: That home ownership societies can also erect and operate photovoltaic installations without much bureaucracy – it is at this time a horror; I say this from personal experience – this demand we expressly support.

We are happy with the consultation on this motion in committee yet need realistically say that it is a very long way to an agreement by our delegation. Yet even a very long way begins with a first step.

            Bernhard Daldrup (SPD): Was that Mao Tse-Tung?

In that sense, there is still a little hope.

I am grateful for your attention.

 

[trans: tem]

 

 

Albrecht Glaser, September 30, 2022, The Germans’ Atom Bomb

German Bundestag, Plenarprotokoll 20/58, p. 6461.

 Frau President. Right honorable ladies and gentlemen.

The EU states are indebted far beyond the Maastricht criteria. This was in the year 2019, well before Corona. The numbers: Over 10 trillion euros, which corresponds to a debt ratio of 84 percent, instead of the required 60 percent consistent with the treaty.

In 1997, the stability and growth pact was decided on in the EU. Parallel to this, the manipulation of Greece’s debts situation, which was to make the country capable of accession, was known. The corresponding dossier on this manipulation still lies under lock and key at the ECB, although complaints were made; that has come out. The contradiction between treaty obligations on one side and the action of governments and states on the other side is since then the red thread of debts policy, and this benevolent consideration which we have just heard is an irony.

The 2008 financial crisis in the EU was principally a state debts crisis. Thus in 2012 a fiscal pact was concluded which obligated all treaty partners to create domestic regulations to prevent overflowing debts. Since then, the legal framework of debts policy is screwed around with until it is past recognition.

The consequences of that: France has debts of 113 percent, Spain of 118 percent, Portugal of 127 percent, Italy of 150 percent and Greece of 193 percent of gross domestic product. Wise heads in the Center for European Policy and at the Bundesbank state: Many members have never made the debts rule their own. Hundreds of violations have been committed by the states. That is around half of all possible treaty violations. The organs of the EU have imposed not one sanction – in regards this number of violations, ladies and gentlemen.

The CDU motion describes in numeral 1, letter a, a correct goal and it names many correct specific requirements, possibly in letters b to f. Yet it will surely find no majority in this house; it does not concern us. If it were found, it would not be enforceable in the EU. If it were enforceable in the EU, a majority of the member states would not adhere to it. That is your problem.

France, Italy and their retinue in southern Europe, which have a broad majority in all organs of the EU, from the Commission through the ECB to the EuGH [European High Court], because for example Cyprus and Malta have the same vote weight as Germany and the Netherlands, want the opposite of what the CDU motion wants. All of the “Club Med” states want the debts union and we are thereby at the crux of the matter.

At the beginning of the 90s, Mitterand spoke of the D-Mark as the Germans’ atom bomb. He said to Margaret Thatcher, I cite: Without a common currency, we are all, you and I, subject to the will of the Germans. – Therefore were Lagarde, who was a French minister prior to her ECB office, and Trichet, who previously was counselor to Giscard d’Estaing, sent into the running – we have left our candidates standing in the rain – and Draghi manages a limitless and illegal state financing of Italy by means of the ECB. That is the neutrality of the ECB for which you of the Union strongly stand, as you to this day write.   

We thus have in Germany not only a migration policy, a foreign and defense policy, an energy policy and a debts policy bankruptcy but also a euro policy one. That is the result of the years-long policy of all parties in this house. We therefore require a new one.

 

[trans: tem]