The tank discount fizzles out - the prices for petrol and diesel are rising again. SPD boss Esken is therefore bringing stricter measures into play, including a speed limit and driving bans. In addition, she calls on the Cartel Office to take action.
SPD leader Saskia Esken does not want to rule out a temporary speed limit and driving bans if oil, petrol and diesel prices continue to rise, despite the tank discount. Esken told the Berlin "Tagesspiegel" that the mineral oil companies "are not passing on the tax cut in full to consumers, it stinks to high heaven". She therefore called for the Cartel Office to intervene. "The mineral oil companies must not cash in at the expense of the taxpayer," said Esken.
If fuel prices remain so high, stricter measures cannot be ruled out, emphasized Esken. An instrument alongside antitrust law is the Energy Security Act from 1975, which was passed in response to the oil crisis and amended by the traffic light coalition in May.
"It allows the government to order temporary measures such as driving bans on Sundays - the elderly remember - or a temporary speed limit," said Esken. "But also price caps or - in extreme cases - placing companies in critical infrastructures of the energy supply under trusteeship for a limited period of time."
The tank discount enforced by the FDP came into force on June 1 as part of the federal government's relief package. It is a three-month reduction in the energy tax on fuels. In the case of petrol, the tax rates are reduced by 29.55 cents per liter and in the case of diesel by 14.04 cents, plus a lower value added tax on the total price.
After a noticeable drop immediately after the tank discount came into effect, prices at the gas stations had recently risen again every day, according to the ADAC.
