Welt: Controversy within the German government over fuel prices

The “green” Minister of Economy, Robert Hubek, wants to severely limit the power of oil companies in the market and does not rule out a split, as the FDP reacts indignantly, according to Welt. The chancellor’s party, the SPD, at the same time is also unconvinced. Habeck receives support from an unusual side.

As petrol prices remain high despite government fuel cuts, Federal Economy Minister Robert Hubbek (Greens) wants to crack down on antitrust laws and make it easier for companies to make a profit by abusing their power. As a “last resort,” according to a Habeck position paper distributed by the Treasury Department today, the Federal Cartel Service should be able to “separate” sectors in which some companies are clearly abusing their market power without having to prove a breach. of antitrust law.

In other words, the emergence of market abuse would be enough to force mineral oil companies to divest part of their business.

With this proposal, Hubeck reacts to the fact that a large part of the so-called return of tanks, ie the exemption of the state from about 30 minutes of oil tax per liter of gasoline, does not reach consumers in full. The suspicion, which is reinforced by the calculations of various experts: Mineral oil companies are converting a significant part of their customers’ discount into their own additional profit.

This is a practice that Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also scolded this weekend. He understands the dissatisfaction of the people “when many have to make cuts and some make extra profits”, Steinmeier told “Bild am Sonntag”. Therefore, he considers it the duty of the federal government to ensure that “some few will not benefit unduly from the situation”. However, this can be difficult.

“Do not continue to stand idly by”

Hubeck’s plan is strongly criticized by the Liberal coalition partner. According to Christoph Meyer, deputy chairman of the FDP parliamentary group in the Bundestag, the economy minister should “primarily ensure that the fuel discount reaches the people, rather than distracting populist proposals from the fact that this has not happened until moment “. Habeck himself had taken care of the coalition committee to reject the FDP’s request for greater transparency in the current pricing of oil companies.

Now the economy minister must “ensure that the FDP’s claim for immediate relief to motorists is also fulfilled.” The issue of tightening cartel legislation, if necessary, will be raised “only later”.

Habeck himself admitted, answering a question from Welt, that his initiative to pass on the full temporary reduction of the petroleum tax to the consumer came too late. “It does not apply to fuel discounts now, but it sharpens its swords for the future and sends a clear message that getting rich at the expense of others is not so easy.” In each case, they have seized it, despite obstacles we can scarcely imagine. ”

The non-transfer of the fuel discount reveals “problems in an inherited market where market power is in the hands of the few. To address this, it is not enough to call on company leaders. The right way is to act politically and deal with them with their actions, “said Habeck, referring to the demands of the CDU and CSU, among others, to personally address the boards of oil companies with criticism of their pricing policies.

The Federal Minister of Economy has not yet convinced the second partner of the coalition with his plans. Detlef Müller, vice-chairman of the SPD parliamentary group, acknowledged that the cartel law had “reached its limits” in the case of the fuel discount. But first, he said, it is important to have the means “to quickly and effectively suck in the excess profits, so that the agreed relief can actually reach the people.” In this context, Müller cites the possibility of a “legal link between pump price developments and commodity market developments”, as well as the imposition of a “surplus tax”, which is currently being discussed by the Bundesrat at the request of the federal government. Bremen state.

Bremen Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte (SPD) praised Habeck’s initiative in response to a question from Welt: “The oil industry continues to maximize its profits and shamelessly fill its pockets – so I welcome any initiative that reduces these war-made gains and again leads to fair pump prices,” Bovenschulte said.

On the other hand, the CDU / CSU parliamentary group expressed skepticism about the plans of the Federal Minister of Economy. “Habeck’s ‘right to intervene independently’ would be an incalculable tool for all markets and businesses and would create legal uncertainty,” said Julia Klöckner (CDU), a spokeswoman for the CDU / CSU parliamentary group. Fuel discount to reach consumers, it is rather “important for the Cartel Office to use the available means quickly and intensively”.