Following a meeting of the coalition committee, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) parliamentary group maintains its expectation of a nationwide electricity price reduction within the current legislative term. Dirk Wiese, parliamentary director, told the Rheinische Post on Friday that “the relief on electricity tax for all is clearly agreed upon in the coalition agreement.
Wiese added that the coalition committee reaffirmed this position, emphasizing that approximately ten billion euros in already counterbalanced relief measures for businesses and consumers send a significant signal. “We will enable perceptible relief now and in the coming years” Wiese continued, stating that they are “implementing this step by step while keeping a close eye on the financial situation.
However, Dennis Radtke, head of the CDU’s trade union wing, criticized the governing coalition for not delivering on the promised electricity price reduction for consumers. Speaking to Bild, he stated, “This coalition has not only the task of moving Germany forward but also of restoring lost trust in politics. The electricity price reduction for all was a central promise of our campaign and I expected us to implement it one-to-one.
Ramona Pop, board member at the Federation of German Consumer Organizations (VZBV), views the coalition committee’s decision as a setback for consumers. In an interview with the Rheinische Post, Pop said, “This is a huge disappointment for consumers. The coalition must not pit businesses against consumers.
Pop further emphasized that after years of rising cost of living, consumers need tangible relief. Highlighting the importance of private consumption to the German economy, accounting for over 50% of the GDP, Pop stressed that “only when people have confidence and financial opportunities can the economy grow”. She concluded that “the reduction of electricity tax must also benefit consumers”.
