Sebastian Roloff, the economic‑policy spokesperson for the SPD parliamentary group, has called for the introduction of an “excess‑profit tax” in the wake of soaring fuel prices and urged the government to provide an immediate cash transfer for low‑income households.
In an interview with the “Rheinische Post” Thursday edition, Roloff said, “Introducing an excess‑profit tax is essential from my point of view”. He added that the tax could be used to raise the commuting allowance, but noted that people need relief sooner than waiting for the next tax return.
The MP urged the CDU/CSU coalition to clear the way for a direct payment to citizens. “A direct payout to people with modest incomes and other groups hit hardest by high prices should now be seriously considered” he said. “That requires a clear stance from the Union”.
Roloff acknowledged that the measures already taken to curb fuel prices are a good start but fall short. “Corporations will not lower prices any time soon, and the Iran war is expected to continue for several weeks” he warned.
He also opened the door to broader market reforms. “The problem of the heavy dependence on a few petro‑chemical firms remains. I support unbundling the market” he explained. “Currently, the same conglomerates handle everything from crude extraction to fuel production to retail stations, effectively setting the price and reaping substantial gains from the Iran crisis”.