Bremen mayor Andreas Bovenschulte (SPD) and Hamburg finance senator Andreas Dressel (SPD) expressed understanding for the resistant stance, particularly from federal finance minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD), regarding a reduction in the electricity tax.
Bovenschulte told Welt (Friday issue) that he strongly supported a reduction in the electricity tax, but stated that this would require serious counter-financing, for example, through a plastic tax, a sugar tax, or a windfall profit tax. Without this counter-financing, it is unfortunately not financially viable.
Dressel also pointed out the lack of counter-financing. He noted that the current back-and-forth between revenue and expenditure does not convey a credible impression. He emphasized that the Union must continually be reminded of the need for counter-financing for tax measures. He added that the idea of tax reductions financing themselves has always been a fairy tale.
Schleswig-Holstein prime minister Daniel Günther (CDU) called for an immediate reduction in the electricity tax. Günther stated that the reduction of the electricity tax for everyone must happen now, benefiting both all companies and private households.
The prime ministers jointly agreed on this point. The Kiel government leader stated that electricity must become permanently more affordable for everyone, commenting on the ongoing tax dispute in the federal government.
In the coalition contract, the Union and SPD had agreed to permanently relieve companies and consumers in Germany by at least five cents per kilowatt-hour through a package of measures. They stated that as an immediate measure, they would reduce the electricity tax for everyone to the European minimum level and reduce surcharges and grid fees.
