Germany’s parliament approved a temporary 17-cent-per-litre cut in gasoline and diesel taxes, effective October 1 through December 31, to ease motorists’ costs as fuel prices soar amid the war in Iran.
Critics called the rebate a gift to oil companies, while experts favored targeted support for low-income people. Christian Democrat spokesman Stefan Korbach defended it as the best short-term tool. Greens leader Katharina Dröge said a similar May-June cut was not fully passed on to consumers, arguing that oil companies still dictate pump prices.
The government has also agreed to introduce a temporary cap on fuel prices by January 2027 at the latest, intended to limit oil companies’ scope to raise prices.
