Heads of state insist on review of fuel prices

In view of the sharp rise in fuel prices, several state premiers are calling for the federal government to take consistent action with the help of antitrust law. "This is not right," said Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) following the Minister Presidents' Conference (MPK) in Berlin. According to the ADAC, the nationwide average price for Super E10 was at times more than two euros per liter for the first time in years, and diesel also cost more than two euros on average.

Kretschmer: "We have to slap them on the wrist"

Kretschmer spoke out in favour of taking action against possible additional profits at the expense of consumers. "We need to slap the wrists of those who now believe they can make additional profits at the expense of consumers and our economy," he said. The aim must be to bring prices down. This is why the federal states support the actions of the federal government and the Federal Cartel Office. "The Cartel Office must now take action and ensure that this stops," said Kretschmer. Alexander Schweitzer (SPD), Minister President of Rhineland-Palatinate, expressed similar sentiments.

Background: Higher energy prices

The background to the debate is rising oil and gas prices as a result of the tense situation in the Middle East. These could fuel inflation again and jeopardize a possible economic recovery in Germany. The petroleum industry association en2x had defended the price increases at filling stations. It said that the price being charged was the price that currently had to be achieved in order to buy back the fuel, which had become significantly more expensive.