The reduction in energy tax is still not fully appreciated by consumers. According to the ADAC, the taxpayer promotes the profits of the petroleum industry – the auto club makes politicians responsible.
Even after the long Pentecost weekend, there is no relief in sight for fuel prices. On Tuesday morning, as on the previous days, the trend was slightly upwards, as the ADAC announced on request.
“The energy tax cut is not reaching the consumer as it should. The prices are still very high,” said fuel market expert Christian Laberer.
Fuel prices had also increased further on the Pentecost weekend. According to ADAC, the nationwide daily average price for E10 grade petrol was 1.942 euros per liter. That was 2.1 cents more than on Friday. A liter of diesel cost 1.976 euros – 0.7 cents more than on Friday.
ADAC expert calls on cartel office to act
Compared to fuel prices on Tuesday, May 31 – the day before the tax cut – E10 was 20.9 cents a liter cheaper on Monday. However, the tax rebate is 35.2 cents. Diesel was 6.8 cents cheaper, the tax rebate here is 16.7 cents.
“As of now, the energy tax reduction is not fulfilling its purpose,” criticized Laberer and demanded: “The cartel office, as a neutral body, must determine that the discount is not being received, and politicians should act. Because at the moment the taxpayer is promoting the profits of the mineral oil industry, which is apparently using the crisis situation to maximize profits at the expense of consumers. »
However, the Cartel Office has already dampened expectations to some extent. “We cannot simply ban high prices,” said President Andreas Mundt of the “Rheinische Post” (Tuesday). So far there has been no evidence of antitrust violations. However, he also said: “In the fuel market, competition only works to a limited extent. That’s why we’re monitoring the industry so closely.”
FDP does not want an excess profit tax
In the debate about a so-called excess profit tax on war-related profits in the mineral oil industry, FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai reiterated his party’s sharp rejection. «I can only warn against the introduction of an excess profit tax. The constant demands for new taxes from the SPD and the Greens are shocking and are on the same level as the Left Party,” Djir-Sarai told the German Press Agency in Berlin on Tuesday. It is “not the time for redistribution debates”.
“An excess profit tax for a particular industry would be a Pandora’s box, opening the door to further arbitrary taxation measures. No industry in Germany would be protected from arbitrary additional profit taxation in the future,” he said. The opposite of what would be important to overcome the current crisis is being achieved. Germany as a business location would be permanently and massively damaged because companies would decide against investing in the country in the future.
Source: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
