Electricity tax dispute: Rudolph advises waiving mothers' pension

Berlin – SPD budget policy expert Thorsten Rudolph is suggesting foregoing projects such as the expansion of the mother's pension to finance a comprehensive electricity tax cut. "If the CDU/CSU truly wants to forgo consumer spending in favor of a reduction in the electricity tax, it should first and foremost forgo its extremely expensive election gifts for restaurants, agricultural diesel, and mother's pension," Rudolph told the news magazine POLITICO on Tuesday. The budget policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group criticized the CDU/CSU's approach to the electricity tax. "I am irritated that parts of the CDU/CSU apparently want to take over the FDP's role in the traffic light coalition and immediately question coalition compromises. That is irresponsible," Rudolph said. "When I look at the draft budget, so far only Bärbel Bas and Reem Alabadi-Radovan have made significant contributions to consolidation." SPD parliamentary group vice-chair Armand Zorn sees various options for co-financing further electricity tax relief. "There are certainly a lot of proposals we can discuss," Zorn said on POLITICO's "Berlin Playbook Podcast." "Ultimately, it's about achieving a good package solution: reducing electricity prices for both consumers and businesses. We've made a start, and now it's about securing financing."