Ampel coalition: FDP member Wissing wants to spare diesel drivers

With his initial statements, the designated new Federal Minister of Transport, Volker Wissing from the FDP, has dampened any hopes for a traffic turnaround: The day after his nomination, the liberal suggested a reduction in fuel prices through an energy tax cut in an interview with Bild newspaper, which he reiterated over the weekend concerning the vehicle tax.

"The FDP will ensure that higher energy taxes and diesel fuels are offset by lower vehicle taxes," declared the former Rhineland-Palatinate Minister of Economics and Transport.

At the same time, he warned against further burdens on drivers of diesel models. He wants to pay particular attention to small businesses that still rely on diesel, especially craftsmen and delivery services, Wissing justified his initiative. An energy tax reform should not lead to "excessive burdens" for drivers.

Many points from the FDP program flowed into the contract

During the presentation of the FDP election program, Wissing had already clarified his guidelines for the transport sector. These include rejecting a speed limit as well as the elimination of company car and diesel privileges, the removal of the kerosene tax exemption, or a ban on short-haul flights. The FDP also opposes the removal of the commuter allowance, a vehicle tax reform based on CO2 emissions (bonus-malus system), or a fixed exit date from combustion engine technology. Additionally, they advocate for the "application-open" use of synfuels, including in passenger cars, and described the "widely demanded comprehensive electrification of all areas of life" as a misguided path. Most of these points are reflected in the coalition agreement, which includes a general commitment to e-mobility and the climate neutrality of the sector by 2045.

Wissing's statements refer to a passage in the coalition agreement which states, "with the implementation of the EU Energy Tax Directive, which envisages a tax equalization of diesel fuel and petrol," the "tax treatment of diesel vehicles in the vehicle tax will be reviewed," according to the agreement. The alignment is a standard demand of environmental and transport experts. Meanwhile, further confusion is caused by the major coalition partner SPD, whose deputy parliamentary group chairman Achim Post indicated that the coalition agreement does not foresee an increase in taxes on diesel fuel, only that a review will occur if the levies on diesel rise.

Scheuer praises "continuation of his work by the traffic light coalition"

Especially the chapter "Mobility" in the coalition agreement had disappointed reactions in specialist circles, but also among the Greens, who were considered set for the Ministry of Transport. Recently, Christian Hochfeld, Director of Agora Verkehrswende, also criticized that "a coherent overall concept" is still not visible as before the election. Initial calculations suggest that the plans would not even come close to meeting the goals of the outgoing government. Promptly, the outgoing Minister of Transport, Andreas Scheuer (CSU), reacted with sarcasm: "Nice that the traffic light continues my work of recent years," he told dpa. He could have written the contract too.

Green traffic politicians expressed outrage at the plans. The transport policy spokesman Stefan Gelbhaar opposed Wissing's plans and stated to Spiegel, referring to the passage, that the contract does not support that. The FDP also agreed to this.

"A future traffic light Minister of Transport should be primarily an advocate for rail, bus, and bicycle," demanded the rail policy spokesman Matthias Gastel and insisted that Wissing must rely on alternative drives, "instead of clinging to fossil fuels, looking backward and forgetting the future."