Bremen’s mayor, Andreas Bovenschulte (SPD), sharply criticized the approach of Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) regarding the fuel price crisis. According to the SPD politician, a quick fix on the street is as ineffective as it is at the pump. He stated that the federal economics minister appears to be planning legislation that could lead to sharp price increases once the current fuel discount expires, before a new price cap comes into effect, a move he deemed neither explicable nor acceptable.
Looking at the draft law from Reiche’s ministry, Bovenschulte criticized the complicated regulations and the maximum price control mechanism, which is only limited to three months. He argued that this approach would not help anyone and demanded that the minister finally decide whom she is taking sides with: “the oil multinationals or the citizens.”
Meanwhile, Hamburg’s financial senator, Andreas Dressel (SPD), called on the federal government to reach an agreement. He warned that the unworthy bickering regarding the fuel discount must not be repeated with the fuel price ceiling. Furthermore, he insisted on advancing the mechanism for direct payments to enable targeted aid.
