Thuringia’s Minister President, Mario Voigt, has suggested a temporary halt to the state CO₂ tax because the current energy‑price crisis, intensified by the Iran conflict, is exacerbating costs for consumers.
He explained that the CO₂ levy adds roughly 15 cents to the price of gasoline, and adding further pressure wouldn’t help citizens who are already feeling the pinch. Voigt therefore proposes suspending the tax for as long as energy prices remain high, emphasizing that people shouldn’t accept rising costs without any mitigation.
The revenue collected from the CO₂ tax currently feeds into the Climate and Transformation Fund. Voigt suggested that planned investments from this fund could be deferred, arguing that having the funds directly in people’s wallets now is the better approach, even if it means scaling back future projects.
At the same time, Voigt warned of the dangers of ignoring the escalating energy prices. He argued that the government must recognise that, due to geopolitical crises and the surge in energy costs, the situation is not “normal” and flexibility is essential. Otherwise, he said, those who simplify complex issues-reference to the AfD-will gain advantage.
