The CDU member of the Bundestag and general secretary of the CDU North Rhine-Westphalia, Paul Ziemiak, sharply attacked the SPD for blocking the reduction in electricity tax for everyone.
“It doesn’t work that way,” he says on the news channel WELT TV. "We agreed in the coalition agreement that the electricity tax must be reduced. Electricity must become cheaper - and I don't understand the SPD for not simply thinking about the normal people in this country."
Ziemiak appealed to the SPD to reflect on its historical origins: "It used to be the workers' party - and they should actually fight to make electricity cheaper for everyone in this country. And I just hope that the SPD comes to its senses again and that the finance minister presents a solution to the SPD."
The party leaders of the Union and SPD announced late on Wednesday evening that they had not found a solution for the planned reduction in electricity tax. There was a lack of counter-financing, it was said. However, the group leaders reached agreements on a few other issues. The sugar tax on heavily sweetened drinks will not come until January 1, 2028, instead of July 1, 2027 as previously planned. An agreed new tax on plastic packaging will not be levied next year. And the increase in the sparkling wine tax is off the table.
Ziemiak did not confirm reports that Merz wanted to discuss the topic of electricity tax at the coalition committee next Tuesday - but he does think that the electricity tax reduction should become a top priority: "We are behind the Chancellor, the last word has not yet been spoken. And we support him in this fight for the people to reduce the electricity tax. And he has our full support."
And further: "That can't be the case: record tax revenues, record debts and there is no money to relieve the burden on people. There is money for everything else, just not for the people in this country. Honestly, that's a joke."
Many in the Union feel ripped off by Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD). CDU General Secretary Franziska Hoppermann attacked the Vice Chancellor head-on. “The finance minister is creative when it comes to inventing taxes. But he ducks when it comes to concrete relief for everyone,” she told “Bild”. "Lars Klingbeil promised to reduce the electricity tax in the coalition agreement. Now the question is: What is this word still worth?"
Schleswig-Holstein's Prime Minister Daniel Günther also insisted on reducing the electricity tax. “The reduction in electricity tax for everyone must come now – for all companies as well as for private households,” said the CDU politician in Kiel. "The Prime Ministers have jointly spoken out in favor of this. We are sticking to that." Electricity must become permanently more affordable for everyone.
Rhineland-Palatinate Prime Minister Gordon Schnieder (CDU) said in Mainz: “I appeal very clearly to the federal government, to the coalition committee, to finally find a solution for the people in this country next Tuesday.” He called it “a bit outrageous” that the CDU and SPD have not yet agreed on the tax reduction for everyone as set out in the coalition agreement.
The SPD was satisfied: “Large chunks” had been clarified, said SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch. He emphasized that cuts in social benefits, especially for families, should be dropped. There were a number of angry requests to speak, and there was talk of “disaster”. The AfD said on Thursday that “Merz and his fallout squad had suffered another catastrophic defeat.”
