Brandenburg slams federal fuel relief plan as insufficient ahead of key vote
Brandenburg's government has voiced strong criticism of the federal fuel price relief plan, calling it inadequate. Despite the objections, the state will still back the proposal in Friday's Bundesrat vote. Minister-President Dietmar Woidke argued that both businesses and households need greater support to cope with soaring fuel costs.
Woidke stressed that current measures fail to ease the burden on drivers and companies. He demanded deeper tax cuts and a recovery of windfall profits from oil firms, insisting that prices must fall. Recent ADAC data showed Super E10 in Brandenburg averaging 2.012 euros per litre before the latest surge, rising slightly to 2.014 euros by late March 2026. Diesel prices climbed from 2.156 euros to 2.109 euros in morning peaks, an increase of around 0.2 to 0.04 cents.
The federal package includes a rule restricting petrol stations to one daily price hike at noon. Meanwhile, a majority of state transport ministers pushed for a windfall tax on excess profits linked to the war. Brandenburg's Transport Minister Robert Crumbach supported the idea, targeting crisis-driven corporate gains.
The Bundesrat will decide on the federal fuel relief plan this Friday. Brandenburg's approval comes despite its leaders calling for stronger action. If passed, the rules would cap daily price changes but leave broader cost concerns unaddressed.
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