Tim Klüssendorf, the SPD Secretary‑General, says the rising fuel prices caused by the Iran conflict demand new actions to ease the burden on consumers. He urges the government to impose a binding daily price ceiling for all market participants. Klüssendorf points to Luxembourg and Belgium, where their finance ministries have already set maximum prices for gasoline, diesel and heating oil. “When prices fall below that ceiling, the petroleum companies compete for the lowest price” he says.
He also calls for a temporary reduction of the energy tax so that pump prices fall noticeably and mobility remains affordable. “The pump should not become a self‑service outlet for crisis profiteering” he says. In addition, Klüssendorf proposes an “over‑profit tax” to tax the substantial profits of oil conglomerates and return those funds to citizens.
Klüssendorf stresses that these measures are intended to soften the effects of the Iran war. He criticises the current actions of the Economy Minister as insufficient. A task force of Bundestag factions has set out clear directives for Minister Katherina Reiche, which he demands be implemented as quickly as possible. “Crisis cannot be a business model. While prices rise, petroleum companies will still try to profit from the situation” he warns, noting that many citizens fear the end of the month as a few large companies continue to push absurd gains higher.