Berlin pushes emergency law on petrol prices

The German federal government is drafting a bill that would require oil companies to justify price increases at petrol stations in advance, a government spokesperson said on Sunday. The move follows a sharp rise in fuel prices after the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran more than two weeks ago.

The proposed law would allow petrol stations to raise prices only once a day at 12.00 p.m., while price reductions would be permitted at any time, the spokesperson said. The measure is intended to be temporary and will be reviewed after the summer.

The proposal was sent on Sunday for inter-ministerial consultation and to parliament. The law could be adopted as early as this week.

(Reuters, SAK)