The countries want them Federal Government apparently to further measures against rising fuel prices as a result of the Iran war. This was reported by the dpa news agency with reference to the ongoing conference of transport ministers in Lindau. Accordingly, a majority of the transport departments at state level are in favor of an excess profits tax and further antitrust measures including profit skimming.
“We need more decisive interventions such as an excess profits tax and stricter antitrust measures,” said North Rhine-Westphalia Transport Minister Oliver Krischer (Greens) at the beginning of the conference. The measures taken so far have not been enough.
Oil prices have risen sharply worldwide as a result of the Iran war, as have the prices for gasoline and diesel. Falling in the process the price increases in Germany apparently stronger than in other countries. The government coalition accuses the oil companies of taking excessive profits.
Bundestag votes on package
A first package with measures against the price increase is this Thursday Bundestag for voting. As was the case until recently in Austria, gas stations should only be used once a dayat 12 p.m., prices are allowed to increase. Price reductions should be possible at any time. There is also a tightening of antitrust law planned in the fuel package. The new rule could come into force before Easter. But it is questionable whether it has a price-dampening effect.
SPD parliamentary group deputy Armand Zorn is pushing for further steps. “We will now quickly examine how we can provide further relief, for example by increasing the commuter allowance or a temporary reduction in the energy tax,” said Zorn, who, alongside Union faction vice-president Sepp Müller, heads the task force set up by the coalition factions. “At the same time, by reintroducing the excess profits tax, we should skim off excessive profits in the energy industry.”
Friedrich Merz is skeptical
The SPD party leader Bärbel Bas had already a week ago in favor of an additional tax to skim off war-related corporate profits. “In my view, an excess profits tax would also be a conceivable option if the oil companies exploit the crisis for excessive profits,” said the Federal Labor Minister. The Federal Ministry of Finance left the measure check for ZEIT information.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) recently said he was open to further measures, but was skeptical about the idea of an excess profits tax. “An excess profits tax seems to me to cause significant tax problems because of the very definition of excess profits,” said the Chancellor. “But I’m open to any discussion.”
However, not every price development can be cushioned through tax measures or the federal budget, warned Merz. “The best way to bring prices back under control is to end the war in Iran,” he added.