German Chancellor Friedrich Merz signaled a tax cut to relieve citizens due to the sharp increase in fuel prices. Merz said that "various taxes and fees should be reviewed" as a solution. CDU Chancellor Merz stated in Berlin on Tuesday that the government has "more than one option." Merz said, "We will discuss this issue within the coalition and I hope we reach a solution soon."

Economy Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) had proposed direct payments to low-income citizens. Regarding this proposal, Merz noted that a payment mechanism had been discussed in the coalition a long time ago. He stated that the Ministry of Finance is "working on" this issue and hopes for its completion as soon as possible. Merz added, "In the meantime, we also need to discuss other possibilities."

Chancellor Merz once again clearly opposed the "excess profits tax" demanded by the SPD. Merz said, "Currently, I do not see sufficient factual and legal grounds for taxing so-called excess profits." As a justification, he used the phrase, "We can only tax companies that have property in Germany." He emphasized that there are many refineries in Germany and these refineries are under significant economic pressure. Merz added, "Instead of taxing them additionally, we should have a high interest in keeping refineries in Germany."

Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD), however, insists on an excess profits tax at the European Union level. Klingbeil said that his proposals, such as an excess profits tax and a price cap to relieve citizens, have been "on the table for weeks." He stated that the EU Commission should "now propose concrete models and tools" regarding the excess profits tax. Klingbeil announced that the issue of the excess profits tax will be on the agenda at the EU finance ministers' meeting in Dublin on Friday. Klingbeil and five European counterparts had requested the inclusion of an excess profits tax in a letter they wrote to Irish Finance Minister Simon Harris in August.