Total Reintroduces Fuel Price Cap in France – German Federal Government Sees No Need for Relief

At the same time, Total has so far managed to fend off demands from parts of the political sphere to pay a so-called excess profits tax on its record earnings. The reintroduction of the price cap is also being read in France as a response to these political demands.

Political Pressure and Excess Profits Tax

While relief measures are being debated in Paris, the German federal government in Berlin currently sees no reason for new measures. Government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius said on Monday in Berlin that relief measures already introduced had expired and that new steps were not currently planned. "The Germans will have to live with such price fluctuations for some time to come," said Kornelius.

Federal Government Sees No Need for Relief

Kornelius also pointed to the dependence of fuel prices on the situation in the Iran conflict and the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important shipping routes for crude oil worldwide. Any escalation in the region would have an immediate impact on prices at the pumps, the government spokesperson explained.

The federal government would continue to monitor developments, Kornelius emphasized. If the situation on the energy markets were to intensify, existing instruments could be reactivated. However, concrete steps would only be announced when this was actually necessary.

Reactions in Germany

Meanwhile, consumer advocates in Germany are also watching the French campaign with attention. If Total attracts customers in France with the weekend discount, this could reignite the debate about similar voluntary commitments from oil companies in Germany.

Overall, the development illustrates the different strategies of both governments: Paris relies on direct, time-limited price interventions, while Berlin relies on market mechanisms and targeted observation, without currently intervening actively.