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Lars Klingbeil
Photo: Moritz Frankenberg / dpa
The SPD chairman Lars Klingbeil has shown himself open to the proposal of a so-called excess profit tax.
"A tax on war and crisis profits is an instrument that is on the table and that I think is very worth considering," he told the newspapers of the Funke media group.
Such a tax is already being used in Great Britain and Italy, and the European Commission is also in favor of it.
"Of course we have to deal with that in Germany."
In view of the relief packages worth billions, he was working intensively on the question of "how we deal with those who profited from the crisis and the war, who are benefiting massively from the current situation," explained Klingbeil.
»We have to use them more to finance the common good.«
No shortage of petrol and diesel, but »speculation«
The Left Party has been calling for an excess profit tax for a long time.
The Greens are also currently open to this.
Klingbeil specifically sent a warning to the oil industry.
These corporations have "massively increased their profits in recent months," he said.
»Now we are waiting to see whether the fuel discount that the government has just decided on and which has just come into effect will reach consumers – or whether it will stick with the corporations.«
There is currently no shortage of petrol and diesel, but »speculation by the mineral oil companies.
We won't let them get away with it,” warned Klingbeil.
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) must “intervene at high pressure through antitrust law”.
The big oil producers have made record profits because of the high energy prices.
The UK announced last week an additional profit tax of 25 percent on the profits of oil and gas producers.
In March, Italy introduced a special tax for energy companies to finance a package of measures to alleviate the consequences of the Ukraine war.
There are also corresponding requirements in Germany.
In the traffic light coalition, Green party leader Ricarda Lang has made an excess profit tax strong.
Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) rejected such ideas at the beginning of May.
ara/dpa/rtr
