The crisis caused by the rising cost of living has led Germans to revolt in defense of low prices for an unexpected product: kebabs.
The German Left Party has even proposed that state funds be used to limit the price of this popular dish in order to make it more accessible, especially for young people. This suggestion comes at a time when the price of kebabs is expected to exceed 10 euros, a significant increase from the current average price of 7.90 euros.
Kathi Gebel, a member of the Left Party's executive committee, appealed to Chancellor Olaf Scholz. "When young people demand: Olaf, make the kebab cheaper, then it's not an internet joke, but a serious cry for help! The state must intervene so that food doesn't become a luxury item," he said.
His party's proposal includes setting the price of kebabs at 4.90 euros for the general public and 2.50 euros for young people. The Left Party's initiative aims to respond to the economic pressures faced by kebab sellers, such as rising rents and electricity costs, which contribute to higher prices, Sky News points out.
According to their report, the potential cost of implementing such subsidies could be almost four billion euros, considering that Germans consume around 1.3 billion kebabs a year.
The issue has even reached German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who commented that he is often confronted with questions about kebab prices during his engagements, underlining the cultural and economic importance of the dish.
This discussion in Germany reflects similar issues in the UK, where the cost of takeaways has risen dramatically. Deliveroo's CEO stressed in March that food inflation is outstripping wage growth by about two to one, although the British government has not proposed any measures such as a kebab price cap in Germany.
