Tough but fair: “A purchase premium for cars would be the absolute lowest point”

Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (CDU) was added to the talk studio. The guests were the party chairmen of the left, Katja Kipping, the entrepreneur and vice president of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) Thomas Meyer and Sarah Stücker, event manager and co-owner of a company for event technology. The topic of sustainability after the Corona crisis brought Carla Reemtsma, student and co-organizer of the Fridays for Future demos, into the discussion.

The largest squabble of the round table

It’s about money – and the possible purchase bonuses for the auto industry are the main cause of arguments. Carla Reemtsma, who is the youngest in the group at the age of 22, has no understanding for such antiquated suggestions. So far, she sees no such social and sustainable criteria in such an economic stimulus package: “There is still serious talk about a purchase bonus for cars and Lufthansa is saved more or less unconditionally. This is a catastrophe, especially for my generation, who will be affected by these investments for a very long time and who will also have to repay a lot of these debts. ”

The purchase bonus has not yet been decided, Altmaier clarifies, but defends the essential role of the automotive industry in Germany: “It’s not just about the 800,000 employees who work there directly, it’s about suppliers, mechanical engineering, about everything many medium-sized companies and craftsmen who depend on it. We have always seen that if it worked properly in this area, then the economy as a whole was doing well. For me, however, it is clear that there should be no isolated purchase premium for the automotive industry. ”He should also not neglect sustainability.

The most predictable funding proposal

Katja Kipping also thinks a purchase premium is wrong, even in the last economic crisis it didn’t help: “In 2009, we had the economic policy experience that a car scrappage premium costs a lot but does nothing.” She gets a completely different, typically left-wing proposal from the moth box to flush money back into the state coffers: she wants to ask the one percent of the richest Germans to pay more, they are supposed to squeeze ten percent of their wealth. “Grandma your little house” is of course not touched, she assures.

Entrepreneur Thomas Meyer does not believe in this wealth tax and avoids Plasberg’s allusion as to whether he would be affected by such a super rich levy. “For those who have assets today, a large part of the assets are in the company, in machines, in systems,” he clarifies.

The evening’s debate on justice

The topic of justice continues to cause heated arguments: Carla Reemtsma finds it untenable that car companies such as BMW still pay dividends to shareholders. “I wonder why people pretend that you do not touch bonuses and dividends.” Kipping jumps in here and cites the Danish government as a model. These companies only grant state support if they no longer pay bonuses or dividends.

Plasberg interrupted the discussion and handed the floor over to the Minister for Economic Affairs, who was the only member of the group who had a little bit of difficulty in speaking and wanted to clarify something urgently: “Both Finance Minister Olaf Scholz and I said that it was for it is inconceivable for us to provide support to a company if it pays dividends and is not prepared to cut manager salaries and bonuses. ”So, for once, everyone agrees.

The most persistent talk guest

Event manager Sarah Stücker usually organizes trade fairs, parties and congresses. Right now, however, she is helping out with the asparagus harvest in the field, because: “In our industry there is a total standstill. Nothing happens at all, ”she complains. Although she had received three-month emergency aid, it was far from enough. “Of course, there will have to be a follow-up regulation for those who still cannot work or only generate a small part of the turnover,” assures her Altmaier.

This is still too little, she feels that her branch is ignored. The auto industry, on the other hand, gets full attention because of the good lobby. Altmaier defends himself: “We have currently paid aid for two million people like you for about twelve billion euros. That has never happened in German history. ”But finally she agrees:“ It will be clear in time what will happen after the emergency aid. We will have to help more where sales remain permanently at zero, ”such as in Stücker’s branch. “It is the first time for me and probably for many others that I even hear that something is being planned,” she replies with a slightly satisfied expression.

The darkest view of the evening

Altmaier also has bad news in his luggage: The tax estimates are pending and will be miserable this year. “Many companies can no longer pay taxes because they no longer have any sales. We will see that economic growth will decline by at least six percent, ”warns the Minister of Economy.