- On Wednesday evening, Sandra Maischberger put the federal government’s relief package to the test.
- Journalist Blome accused Minister of Agriculture Özdemir (Greens) of cynicism and one journalist spoke of billions being thrown out the window.
- There was a bang in the studio when most of the population lost sight of it.
The Ukraine war also has consequences for the German purse. The inflation rate has climbed to a record high, with no end in sight. the federal government has now passed the relief package.
However, the concerns of many citizens are far from over. What is the status of the Ukraine war and how well is politics in this country cushioning the consequences?
That is the topic at Maischberger
The show again focused on the multi-billion dollar relief package that the federal government had launched. “Are pensioners forgotten?”, wanted Maischberger know and: “What’s next?”
The studio also dealt with the killing spree at an elementary school in Texas, the capitulation of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol and the current status of the Ukraine war.
These are the guests
Hubertus Heil (SPD): The Minister of Labor defended the relief package: “It can make life a bit easier in the summer,” said Heil. The aim is to relieve middle and lower incomes in a targeted manner. Regarding the criticism that pensioners had been overlooked, he said: “The energy money is only one element.” It’s not as if the package doesn’t also include things that pensioners benefit from. He is driven by the question: “What do we do if prices are permanently high,” Heil admitted.
Nicholas Blome: The head of the policy department at “RTL/n-tv” criticized the Green Cem Özdemir sharply. He had said in “Spiegel”: “Eating less meat would be a contribution against Mr. Putin”. Blome on this: “I find it cynical to free-ride on a war! “Putin’s war chest will not be drained by the fact that we eat one less schnitzel here.
Hannes Jaenicke: Regarding the shooting at a Texas elementary school, the actor said, “The worst thing is, you almost got used to it. It’s become so commonplace.” No matter how high the frequency, Republicans would block any gun law reform to this day. Nothing will change this time either. At the time when the right to own a gun came from, the guns were equipped very differently. “As a big fan of this country, I can’t understand that,” said Jaenicke.
Kristina Dunz: “Every kilowatt hour that we save helps,” said the journalist. At the same time, she rejected the 9-euro ticket as a useful tool. “This measure will come to nothing,” she was sure. 2.5 billion euros would be thrown out. “It could have been better invested in local public transport,” Dunz said. She feared that some commuters would switch to cars if the trains were overcrowded.
Frederik Pleitgen: “As the Russians advanced, they thought it would all be super easy,” said the CNN correspondent. “I see the whole thing more positively for the Ukrainians than many see here,” said Pleitgen. The Russian soldiers fought a war in the 20th century that Ukraine in the 21st century. “Most of the heavy weapons have not yet arrived at the front,” he recalls. In the next few weeks, Ukraine will be able to launch a counteroffensive.
Claudia Major: “It’s looking bad for Ukraine right now,” analyzed the security expert. Russia is making land gains, albeit at great cost. But she also reminded: “It is also up to us how things will continue.” Western support has already meant that Ukraine has been able to resist for much longer than expected. “Even if there are now offers from Russia for negotiations, these are more of a tactical break to recover,” Major suspected.
This is the moment of the evening at Maischberger
In the middle of the show, presenter Maischberger had picked up speed. “I insist that you tell those who can’t benefit from this energy flat rate what’s in store for them in the energy sector,” she said. The squeaky around, called the heating subsidy and said: “If the prices stay high, we need a social balance.”
Maischberger wasn’t satisfied with that: “What kind of one? I’m always waiting for you to tell me what the pensioners can look forward to at Energie.” Heil tried again with the abolished EEG surcharge, but then gave in: “I’ll make concrete suggestions.” Maischberger took stock: “I’ll make it clear that you haven’t gotten these proposals to the point where you’re going to say something about them tonight and the pensioners can definitely not expect anything for the 300 euros that they don’t get.”
This is the speech duel of the evening
It was about the increased prices when Jaenicke provided the template: “We’ve gotten used to the fact that everything is cheap. Things have to get value again.” There is constant talk of the climate crisis, but CO2 emissions are increasing in traffic. “The opposite of what should have happened has been happening for years. That’s why I honestly don’t think it’s that bad if fuel prices go up first,” says Jaenicke.
Journalist Dunz contradicted her: “I think we have to think in this argument of the large part of the population, who can afford a lot less than we who are sitting here and can talk much more freely about the fact that we think it’s good , if a liter of fuel costs 2.40 euros”. Many workers in the countryside would have to open an account as to whether it was worth going to work. Blome also intervened from the sidelines: “This is a discussion from the light-flooded old building!”
This is how Sandra Maischberger fought
At the beginning of the show, Maischberger gave the debate a lot of free rein, but it became more vehement at the latest in a conversation with Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil. When asked why pensioners didn’t get energy money, Heil didn’t let her out of the pliers.
A few tips then gradually came from her: “If commuters switch to cars, have they reached their destination?” She wanted to know about Heil, for example. Also: “Do you buy the 9-euro ticket at all? You have a Bahncard 100” and “Why should people fill up cheaply but not buy cheap groceries?”
This is the result at “Maischberger”
The government’s relief package has met with mixed reactions. Some speak of a good “field test” with the 9-euro ticket, others of overlooked and forgotten pensioners. The summer will show how effective the measures are.
However, Heil already came up with a gloomy prognosis: the prices could remain so high in the long term – and then you would have to think about completely different measures again.
Updated 05/25/2022 05:21 PM
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