Above all, the energy prices are climbing and are also a burden on all private households. The traffic light wants to relieve the citizens. But the question of how is still hotly debated.

Berlin.

In the debate about climate money, SPD leader Saskia Esken rejected the proposal made by Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (also SPD ) defended against criticism from the coalition partner FDP.

A socially just designed climate money was agreed in the coalition agreement, said Esken den Newspapers of the Funke media group (Tuesday). Because of the price increases, especially for energy, the promise must be implemented this year.

Income limits and staggering can be used to guarantee that the relief "reaches the people they need most," said Esken. In the coalition agreement, the SPD, Greens and FDP agreed on climate money as a "social compensation mechanism". Heil is now proposing to pay a state subsidy once a year to people with a gross monthly income of less than 4000 euros . In addition, he is planning higher standard rates for people with basic security.

FDP leader Christian Lindner said on Monday evening in the ZDF "heute journal" that Heils concept was very bureaucratic, a "new redistribution pot" and does not correspond to the coalition agreement. The Minister of Finance is counting on a tax reform to ease the burden on middle- and low-income citizens. (dpa)