SPD parliamentary chief Dirk Wiese supports the idea of an “excess‑profit tax” on emergency profits from oil companies. “We can’t simply watch war‑profiteers fill their pockets while the rest of the population pays the price” Wiese said to the “Rheinische Post” Friday edition. “This is unacceptable”. He added that it is important to keep the option on the table and that the excess‑profit tax is a practical way to capture such profits. “The money raised could then finance relief measures for citizens” he explained.

According to “Der Spiegel”, Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, also of the SPD, is reviewing the introduction of a similar excess‑profit tax. The proposed revenue would be used to increase the commuter allowance, thereby easing the burden on commuters.