The Left proposes that the German government introduce a new “excess‑profit tax” on oil companies and, at least temporarily, implement a fuel‑price ceiling at the European level. The revenue generated would finance a renewed 9‑Euro ticket and a one‑time energy‑crisis cash payment for every citizen.
The bill, drafted by Finance Committee chair Christian Görke and party colleague Ines Schwerdtner, builds on the 2022 excess‑profit rule that was enacted at the height of the oil‑price crash. The new proposal triggers when a company’s profit margin exceeds the average of 2024 and 2025 by 15 %-instead of the 20 % threshold used before. Moreover, while the earlier law allowed 33 % of the excess profit to be taxed, the new measure would tax 50 % of the surplus. The Left expects these adjustments to raise more than the roughly €2.5 billion collected in 2022. The money would be earmarked for “social and sustainable mobility” programmes, including a reintroduction of the 9‑Euro ticket and free‑fare (zero‑Euro) passes for students, apprentices, seniors and low‑income travellers. The tax proceeds would also supplement regional funding for public transport.
In addition, the party calls for a single, €300 energy‑crisis cash payment to every citizen, paid through the state’s direct‑payment mechanism that has been in use since 2022. The payment would be subject to income tax, so the relief would taper for higher earners but stay nearly tax‑free for low‑income households.
Finally, the Left seeks an European‑level fuel‑price cap to stop uncontrolled rises in diesel, gasoline or heating oil that could trigger severe inflation, although the party has not yet specified the price thresholds that would trigger the cap.
