Under the new legislation, gas stations will be allowed to raise prices only once a day, while they can lower prices at any time. The bill also tightens antitrust rules in an attempt to increase transparency in fuel pricing. Additional steps are already being discussed within the ruling coalition led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, which includes conservatives and the Social Democratic Party. The German Bundestag on Thursday approved initial measures to curb the sharp rise in fuel prices in Europe's largest economy, after the Iran war pushed prices to high levels. Violating this ban can result in fines of up to 100,000 euros, equivalent to 108,000 dollars.
