Rejection of an application against an excess profits tax (resolution recommendation)

In the Bundestag, a motion from the AfD parliamentary group was rejected, which deals with measures against high fuel prices and is particularly directed against the introduction of a so-called excess profits tax. The background to the application is the current debate within the federal government and at EU level about possible interventions in the energy market, for example through a special tax on high profits of energy companies. The AfD argues that rising fuel prices are primarily due to international crises and the resulting supply bottlenecks. In their opinion, an excess profits tax would not help to lower prices, but could inhibit investment and reduce supply in the long term. Instead, the group is calling for alternative measures to relieve the burden on consumers. These include, among other things, a reduction in energy tax to the European minimum level, a reduction in VAT on fuels and the abolition of the CO₂ tax. It is also argued that a significant part of the fuel price already consists of government taxes and duties. There was also a recommendation for a resolution from the Finance Committee for the application, which recommended rejection. The recommendation for a resolution was approved with 499 yes votes to 136 no votes and no abstentions.