The parliamentary left faction has strongly criticized the federal government’s planned intention to sell off a portion of its state holdings in the energy conglomerate Uniper. Challenging the rush to sell, Christian Görke, the parliamentary spokesperson for finance, told Funke-Mediengruppe newspapers that such action is unwarranted. He emphasized that the current energy crisis, marked by record-high prices that are burdening citizens, necessitates greater stability. Görke argued that a state-owned energy company is more crucial now than ever before, as it allows for greater market control. He pointed out that the presence of heavily state-owned energy companies in other EU member states has helped temper prices there, suggesting a similar benefit for Germany. Furthermore, Görke noted that Uniper is beginning to generate profits again, stating that approximately 300 million euros are expected to flow into the federal budget soon.
He questioned the rationale of relying on private entities to absorb profits while the state bears the initial risk during a crisis. Görke argued that the federal government should therefore revise its approach. Instead of implementing the “legally questionable requirements” supposedly set by the EU Commission, the government should focus on options that allow it to avoid selling state shares. Moreover, he pointed out that even within the framework of EU guidelines, there is still time until 2028, meaning there is no reason for such urgency amidst the ongoing crisis. These concerns arise as the federal government prepares to re-sell the energy conglomerate Uniper, approximately three and a half years after the state nationalization. Reports, including an advertisement in the “Financial Times” published on Tuesday, indicated that, in addition to a potential sale, the federal government is also examining the possibility of a public stock offering.