According to a media report, the leaders of the Union parliamentary group in the Bundestag are demanding an annual energy allowance for families of 1,000 euros per child. The energy flat rate should be paid out this year and next, the newspapers of the Bayern media group reported on Wednesday, citing a paper by the executive parliamentary group leaders of the CDU and CSU.

The document says: “We want to introduce a surcharge of 1,000 euros for each child for the years 2022 and 2023 per household for incomes below 30,000/60,000 euros (single/married).” According to the Union, it is a lump sum in the sense of a one-off payment and not a tax exemption.

In addition, there should also be relief in income tax in the two years. According to the Bayern media group, the parliamentary group calls for “an energy relief amount for income tax of 3,000 euros” for the two income groups mentioned.

In view of sharply rising energy prices, the traffic light coalition of SPD, Greens and FDP wants to quickly decide on further relief for citizens. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) said on Tuesday at the start of the cabinet meeting in Meseberg that the federal government is currently discussing very carefully “how we can get a package of relief for citizens and companies that is as tailor-made as possible, as efficient as possible, as targeted as possible”.

CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt now told the Bayern media group: “We don’t need an uncoordinated flash in the pan of the dispute traffic light on the subject of relief, but we urgently need an effective relief package for citizens and companies.” Without effective relief, the increasing costs for families threatened to fall into the poverty trap will.