German Government’s Budget Plan Draws Criticism from Opposition for Omitting Electricity Tax Cut
The opposition in the German parliament has voiced strong disapproval over the government’s decision to omit the planned reduction in the electricity tax for consumers in its new budget plan. The black-red federal government, led by Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, had initially promised to lower the tax, but ultimately failed to do so.
Tilman Kuban, a CDU politician, expressed his disappointment, stating that the government’s promise was broken and that the parliament now has the responsibility to correct the mistake made by the finance ministry. He suggested that the government should find alternative ways to fund the reduction in the electricity tax, such as significantly cutting back on other areas of the budget.
Kuban argued that the reduction in the electricity tax would not only benefit consumers but also the environment, as it would lead to a decrease in the demand for subsidies for heat pumps. He emphasized the need for tax relief in Germany, as the country requires economic growth.
The government’s decision to abandon the planned reduction in the electricity tax for all consumers has been justified by Economy Minister Katherina Reiche, who stated that the coalition agreement had to be adjusted to reflect the government’s financial capabilities and reality. The initial plan had allocated around 15 billion euros for the reduction in the electricity tax, but the revised budget no longer includes this provision.