Hamburg’s finance senator Andreas Dressel (SPD) reacted with astonishment to the push to extend the 9-euro ticket in Berlin. “I’m irritated,” he told radio station NDR 90.3, adding: “Of course we all want a quick solution with the federal government. The federal government must provide a template for the nine-euro ticket”. Then the federal states would “certainly” also participate, but it only makes sense if there is a coordinated procedure.
Dressel also made a dig at the state government in Berlin – which, like in Hamburg, is led by the SPD – Dressel: The push would come “straight from Berlin, which is now also a recipient country in the state financial equalization. So we’re surprised that this advance is coming at this point in time.” Hamburg, on the other hand, has traditionally been on the side of the donor countries.
Berlin’s Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD) had announced a connection solution for the 9-euro ticket from October 1st before the weekend. How much the local ticket should cost has not yet been mentioned.
Several hundred people demonstrated in Hamburg on Friday for the continued existence of the nine-euro ticket. They showed signs with the inscription “9-Euro-Ticket forever!”, “Public transport for everyone” or “Local transport instead of the armed forces”. Among others, Fridays for Future and the Green Youth Hamburg as well as the Interventionist Left, classified by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution as left-wing extremists, called for the demonstration. Around 200 to 300 participants marched from Jungfernstieg through Mönckebergstrasse.
Political support for the project comes from the Hamburg left. MP Heike Sudmann described Berlin as a “role model” and said: “The coalition in the federal government is letting the FDP dance around on its nose with its blocking attitude when it comes to the urgently needed successor solution for the 9-euro ticket. The city-state of Berlin is now moving forward.” But the people of Hamburg also deserve “that the Senate no longer stands idly by and watch the tragedy in the federal government.” Therefore, it must be checked immediately, such as the 9-euro ticket in the HVV by the end of the year can be extended.