Union and SPD representatives are at odds over how to capture excess profits in the petroleum sector in response to rising fuel and oil prices.
Andreas Lenz, the economic‑policy spokesperson for the Union (CSU) faction in the Bundestag, told the newspapers of the “Media Group Bayern” that any tax intervention must be well‑justified and legally sound. “A ‘surplus‑profit tax’ might sound politically attractive, but it is economically and legally demanding and raises significant delimitation issues” he said. Lenz added that the situation must not be exploited by corporations; the state and competition authorities, therefore, must closely monitor market conditions and step in if necessary.
In contrast, Sebastian Roloff, the economic‑policy spokesperson for the SPD faction, called for a levy on the “surplus profits” generated during the crisis. He emphasized that a handful of large oil companies should not be allowed to extract additional gains from a crisis situation, and that relief should reach consumers. “War‑related extra profits or abusively earned special gains should be appropriated” Roloff argued. He noted that Germany has already had positive experience with a surplus‑profit tax during the energy‑price crisis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.