Armand Zorn, the deputy chairman of the SPD parliamentary group, accused the oil corporations of abusing their market power. Speaking to the news portal T-Online, Zorn noted, “The price increases for gasoline and diesel during the Easter period were much higher than what oil prices alone would justify. This also happened in previous years around Easter-so, it is not only related to the Iran War, but primarily to the market power of the oil corporations”.
He pointed out that the Federal Cartel Office has gained cartel law tools through the fuel measures package, allowing it to “take a firm stance” in the mineral oil market. Since April 1st, the corporations are required to prove how their price increases were achieved. The SPD politician insisted that these instruments must be applied consistently if the companies fail to provide a satisfactory explanation.
Zorn also called for further relief measures. He expects the results of the audit assignments from the ministries, which were decided upon during the last meeting of the Taskforce. This task force was established in response to rising fuel prices; Zorn co-chairs the coalition committee with Sepp Müller (CDU). Following this, the parliament will quickly pass a “relief package”. The SPD politician continued, stating, “I advocate for establishing a relative price ceiling to show the oil corporations clear boundaries, and for financing relief measures with a windfall tax on the already realized profits. Our policy must and will not leave the people in this country alone with this price crisis”.
Conversely, Müller tempered expectations for further relief for car owners. Speaking to “Die Welt” Müller said, “Every euro can only be spent once. Anyone who claims that the state can solve every problem is misleading the people”. He stated their priority: “Targeted relief-especially for low and middle incomes, families, and employees. And: strengthening the middle class, the backbone of our economy”.
Müller also argued that the crisis cannot be “subsidized away”. He added, “We cannot fully offset the price shock using tax revenue. As long as the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz continues, energy prices will remain high. The markets should expect at least a year of strain”. He warned that “new debt is not a solution-it burdens future generations and drives inflation” citing the example of Italy, where the Meloni government’s state gas discount largely evaporated.