Germany's SPD is pushing for a national excess profits tax on mineral oil companies to fund a fuel discount, even without EU agreement. The move has reignited tensions with coalition partner CDU. Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil plans to address energy taxes on Friday.
Germany's SPD remains committed to introducing an excess profits tax on mineral oil companies. "We stick to it: Companies must not use crises to enrich themselves at the expense of the broad majority," Wiebke Esdar, SPD budget and finance spokesperson, told Der Spiegel. "Those who rip off must pay."
The tax aims to fund a 17-cent-per-liter fuel tax discount agreed by SPD leader and Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil with Chancellor Friedrich Merz, conditional on EU approval. An EU deal looks unlikely, however. Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribera said on Wednesday that all member states must vote unanimously. "It has to be certain," she cautioned.
Klingbeil's ministry is examining implementation options and continues to push for the tax. "This way we can skim off crisis profits and use them for real relief for citizens," Klingbeil said. He plans to speak on energy taxes Friday.
The CDU opposes the measure. Economy Minister Katherina Reiche called it a "wrong path" and constitutionally dubious. Chancellor Merz agrees. Suspicion centers on oil firms raising prices excessively, despite cartel tightenings like daily price adjustments once per day. The discount is set to apply from May for two months.
