As of April 1, 2026, gas stations in Germany are only allowed to increase the price of gasoline and diesel once a day – at 12:00 noon. Price reductions are still allowed at any time.
Veronika Grimm, a member of the German Council of Economic Experts, disagrees with this decision. “The government should let the prices work so that the demand for energy falls, quoted Euronews quoted the expert as saying. – Discounts and restrictions distort prices, this is the wrong way. I don’t believe in a tax on excess profits either. Measures adopted in the ‘global South’, including the obligation to work at home and restrictions on the use of transportation, would be more effective.
Politicians’ reactions
In Germany, there are growing calls for immediate countermeasures. Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner (Christian Democratic Union) is calling for a price cap on gasoline and diesel similar to that in Poland. He also calls for the suspension of the CO₂ emissions tax.
The Social Democratic Party of Germany has also put forward proposals for tax cuts. They are also in favor of introducing a flexible price cap, similar to the Polish model.
Monthly pass for 9 euros
The Green Party, on the other hand, pays more attention to reducing consumption and is in favor of a temporary speed limit on autobahns, the introduction of a monthly pass for 9 euros (currently it costs 49 euros) and a tax on excess profits for oil companies.
Criticism from the opposition was also voiced by the party “Alternative for Germany”. They believe that the state’s price cap could create new uncertainty and, in the extreme case, lead to the fact that gas stations will suffer losses at a fixed price and there will be no fuel. Instead, the party calls for a lower energy tax and the abolition of the carbon tax.
In parallel, the German government is responding directly to the price trend. Federal Economy Minister Katerina Reiche (Christian Democratic Union) announced that part of the strategic oil reserves will be released as part of an international initiative to mitigate the price trend on the markets.
