CDU/CSU call for electricity tax cut for all Consumers in Germany

The parliamentary group leaders of the CDU and CSU at federal and state level are calling for an early relief for private households and small and medium-sized businesses through a reduction in electricity taxes. The government's current plan to reduce electricity taxes for the manufacturing sector can "only be a first step," according to a paper unanimously adopted on Monday by the CDU/CSU parliamentary group leaders' conference, which was made available to the AFP news agency in Berlin. 

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This first step must be followed "promptly and in any case during this legislative period, as soon as the financial scope for this exists," it continues. The chairmen of the CDU and CSU parliamentary groups called for "a rapid reduction of the electricity tax to the European minimum for all companies and all consumers."

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The paper was adopted on Monday at a meeting of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group leaders in Bad Dürkheim. Jens Spahn (CDU), the leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag, also participated.

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The federal government's previous plans to initially reduce the electricity tax only for industry and agriculture had attracted considerable criticism. Business associations and opposition parties accused the CDU/CSU and SPD of breaking their word: The coalition agreement had stipulated a reduction in the electricity tax to the European minimum "for everyone."

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Already on Sunday evening, Chancellor's Office Minister Thorsten Frei (CDU) expressed his openness to discussions about the universal electricity tax reduction agreed upon in the coalition agreement. "You have to look at where the money ultimately comes from," he said on ARD. A "reallocation" of the federal budget would then be necessary. "If there are suitable options for this and there is consensus within the coalition as a whole, then it is a path we can discuss."

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Conversely, Federal Minister of Economic Affairs Bas stated on Deutschlandfunk that the coalition had agreed to prioritize relief for industry and agriculture first, leaving general tax cuts for later, when funding becomes available. She expressed surprise at CDU/CSU criticism, saying, “We said: relieve the economy first to secure jobs.” Bas also noted the electricity tax cut will be discussed in a coalition committee meeting this Wednesday.