Three quarters of Germans against higher energy prices

Rewritten Base Article:

Germans Sound the Alarm on Higher Energy Prices

It's been a week since farmers took to the streets of Berlin, protesting against the proposed removal of agricultural diesel subsidies by the traffic light coalition. This move, according to the coalition's blueprint, would necessitate farmers paying the full tax rate on their diesel and no longer enjoying motor vehicle tax exemptions. However, this issue serves as a mere tip of the iceberg, as German citizens widely reject the government's austerity package.

A recent Forsa survey commissioned by stern magazine reveals that an overwhelming three quarters of Germans are opposed to the coalition's intentions to make energy expenses more burdensome. To tackle the budget deficit, the coalition has decided to increase the C02 price more sharply by the year's end. As a result, prices for heating oil, gas, petrol, diesel, and electricity are predicted to surge. A mere 22% of Germans perceive these escalating energy costs as justifiable. Meanwhile, 75% of the population believes the German government ought to offset the budget shortfall through savings, not by adding financial strain for the public. A mere 3% express an unfamiliarity with the matter. The discontentment is particularly noticeable among households whose monthly net income falls below 2500 euros, with 82% of them expressing disapproval for the traffic light coalition's strategies.

The voters of the governing parties SPD and FDP share this displeasure, with 61% of SPD supporters and 62% of FDP voters refusing the measures. The CDU/CSU and AfD factions are even harsher in their rejection, recording 82% and 95% negative responses, respectively. The Greens are the only party that sustains a moderate approval rate, with 59% of their electorate supporting the move to elevate energy expenses, while only 37% welcome more restrained cost-cutting measures.

The market and opinion research institute forsa conducted the survey for RTL Group Germany on December 14 and 15, 2023. The data sample consisted of 1096 respondents, with a statistical error margin of +/- 3 percentage points.

Further Readings:

• The coalition's decision to amplify the C02 price more fiercely, aiming to rectify the budget deficit, has stirred speculations of ascending expenses for heating oil, gas, petrol, diesel, and electricity.
• The Forsa survey, commissioned by stern magazine, revealed that three out of four Germans severly criticize the government's plan to escalate energy costs, with only a fifth regarding higher expenses as justified.
• The opposition towards these rising energy costs is prevalent among households with a net income of less than 2500 euros per month; a whopping 82% of them reject the traffic light coalition's proposals.
• Across the governing parties' voter bases, widespread dissentation is observed: 61% of SPD voters, 62% of FDP voters, and 82% of CDU/CSU voters speak out against the measures.

Source:

Enrichment Data:

Although the provided sources fail to explicitly disclose the public perception of the traffic light coalition's energy cost-cutting plans, they offer ample insights into the overall sentiment and political reactions:

1. Public Response: In light of soaring winter heating bills, fueled by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the subsequent energy market instability, there seems to be a widespread powerful dissatisfaction with the prevailing energy pricing situation in Germany[1].
2. Political Responses:
3. CDU/CSU: Members like Friedrich Merz of the CDU/CSU vehemently criticize the "green energy transition" for contributing to high prices, advocating for a return to nuclear power and coal[2][3].
4. Greens: Greens officials have defended their climate and energy policy, emphasizing the importance of pursuing consistent and socially inclined climate initiatives despite the current challenges[3].
5. SPD: Olaf Scholz, the SPD leader, has acknowledged the influence of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on energy prices but defends the government's response, suggesting that the highest prices have already passed[2].
6. Economic Impact: Many energy-intensive industries have experienced significant downturns due to elevated gas prices, leading to a decline in German industrial output[4].
7. Polls and Debates: Upcoming election debates have featured references to economic and energy issues, with figures like Friedrich Merz and Olaf Scholz addressing the public's concerns surrounding energy expenses and economic stability[2][4].

While there is no explicit mention of a specific Forsa survey result, the general sentiment from the sourced data suggests that opposing the idea of increasing energy costs as a cost-cutting measure is widely prevalent among the German public, ultimately becoming a contentious issue in German politics.