German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said the government could finance a new billion-euro relief package for the population in the face of inflation without waiving debt restrictions.

Asked by the Rheinische Post about the size of this potential aid, he pointed out that “a small two-figure amount in billions of euros is possible”, explaining that “this new support package is aimed at low- and middle-income German families and will also include targeted measures for businesses that consume a lot of energy.

On August 11, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised a new package to help individuals amid rising prices in the energy and food sectors, which is expected to be agreed this autumn. But he reaffirmed his intention to return to fiscal discipline next year, while keeping the deficit at 0.35 percent of GDP. Inflation in Germany reached 7.5% in July, slightly below June’s 7.6%.