SPD Leaders Back Klingbeil on Electricity Tax, Expressing Support for Refusal to Cut Stromsteuer

Bremer Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte (SPD) and Hamburg Finance Senator Andreas Dressel (SPD) expressed understanding for the rejection, especially that coming from Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD), regarding a reduction of the electricity tax.

Bovenschulte told Welt (Friday edition) that he would strongly support a reduction in the electricity tax. However, this would require serious offsetting financing, for example, through a plastic tax, a sugar tax, or windfall taxes. Without this offsetting financing, it is unfortunately not payable.

Dressel also referred to the lack of offsetting financing. The current back and forth on the revenue and expenditure side only gives an marginally trustworthy impression. The Union, in particular, must be reminded repeatedly of the need for offsets for tax measures. The notion that tax reductions can finance themselves has always been a fairy tale.

Schleswig-Holstein Minister President Daniel Günther (CDU) called for an early reduction of the electricity tax. "The reduction of the electricity tax for everyone has to come now - for all companies as well as for private households," said Günther.

The Minister Presidents unanimously agreed on this, according to the Kiel government leader, regarding the ongoing tax dispute in the federal government. Electricity must become permanently more affordable for everyone.

In the coalition agreement, the Union and SPD had agreed to relieve businesses and consumers in Germany by at least five cents per kWh permanently with a package of measures. "For this, we will immediately reduce the electricity tax for everyone to the European minimum and reduce surcharges and network charges."