It also has one day after the Bundestag Federal Council approved the federal government’s package of measures to combat high fuel prices. In the future, gas stations in Germany will only be allowed to increase their fuel prices once a day. Price reductions are allowed as often as desired.
The package also tightens antitrust law. The Federal Cartel Office receives more powers to combat excessive prices. In the future, companies will have to demonstrate that price increases are objectively justified. This should make it much easier for the cartel office to take action against excessive fuel prices.
Many states criticized the federal government’s package of measures as not being extensive enough. Federal Council President Andreas Bovenschulte (SPD) accused the oil companies of exploiting the war and their market power, to fill their pockets with unreasonable excess profits. “This is unacceptable and indecent,” said the SPD politician. Even among the federal states, there was no majority in favor of the demands for a price cap or an excess profits tax.
Federal Council President Bovenschulte calls for excess profits tax
“What we need now is – to put it untechnically – a gas price brake to relieve the burden on consumers in order to counteract an impending inflationary spiral from the outset,” said Bovenschulte. However, such relief should not primarily come at the expense of public budgets. “We therefore urgently need an excess profits tax to provide counter-financing, with which inappropriate extra profits can be skimmed off for the benefit of the general public,” said Bovenschulte.
The Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Economics, Gitta Connemann (CDU), stated Relief for citizens For example, there is the prospect of a higher commuter allowance if the situation does not improve. However, she rejected “expensive fiscal measures with diffuse effects”.