Merz announces cut fuel tax to ease price surge

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he expects oil firms to pass on a fuel duty cut to consumers.

DW has the latest.

Here is a roundup of the latest headlines from Germany on Monday, April 13, 2026:
IN PICTURES — World's oldest gorilla celebrates birthday in Berlin
She is known as the "grand dame" of Berlin Zoo, and Fatou reached the grand old age of 69 this Monday.

Fatou was treated to a meal of her favorite vegetables, pre-cooked as she no longer has any teeth!

Although suffering from arthritis, Fatou is still certainly mobile.

READ — Lufthansa pilot strike disrupts flights across Germany
Flights operated by Lufthansa have been heavily disrupted due to a pilot strike.

Airports, including Frankfurt, say delays and cancellations were affecting flights on Monday and Tuesday, while Munich Airport has reported additional disruptions at the carrier's subsidiary Eurowings.

Read more about this story by clicking here.

Germany launches nationwide speed enforcement week
Police across Germany are launching a week of intensified speed checks.

According to the German Automobile Club (ADAC), there’ll be extra monitoring on highways, federal roads, and in urban areas.

The focus is on accident-prone stretches of road and areas such as schools, construction sites, and hospitals.

Most German states are participating in the campaign, although some —  Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Brandenburg —  are focusing only on the main day, Wednesday.

Only the western state of Saarland is not participating.

Those caught in speed traps could expect a fine, points on their license, and potentially a driving ban.

Up to speed: Monitoring speed on the German Autobahn
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Retailers cite data rules as hurdle in theft fight
German retailers have raised concerns that strict data protection rules are hindering efforts to combat shoplifting .

According to a study cited by the group, more than 400,000 cases were recorded in 2024, with over half of retailers affected.

Companies also reported an increasing professional approach and willingness to use violence among offenders.

"Shoplifting is a massive burden for retailers, regardless of size or location," Dirk Binding, Head of Retail at the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), explained.

"And if they want to protect themselves, they face bureaucratic hurdles."
According to the study, many retailers view the use of video surveillance and AI-supported analytics as a possible solution.

However, it said, this has been thwarted by red tape.

Companies "encounter significant legal hurdles when using these technologies," the DIHK said.

A key problem is the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), it said.

Among other things, the rule stipulates a maximum storage period of 72 hours for video footage.

The use of artificial intelligence also offers great potential, the chamber said, but is "currently legally limited."
Merz welcomes 'heavy defeat' for Orban in Hungary
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed relief that the result of elections in Hungary were ​so clear, after the defeat of nationalist ‌leader Viktor Orban .

Merz said the result showed of Sunday's vote — in which opposition leader Peter Magyar swept to victory — was a sign that Western democracy could prove resilient ‌to ​Kremlin interference.

Merz said the result of the parliamentary election on Sunday was a "heavy defeat" for "right-wing populism".

"Hungary has sent a very clear signal against right-wing populism across the whole world.

In that respect, yesterday was...

a good day," Merz said.

"This demonstrates that our democratic societies ​are evidently much more resilient to Russian ​propaganda and further ​external interference in ​such elections," ‌Merz told the press ​conference in Berlin that followed coalition talks.

Several European national security sources have reported that Moscow deployed a team of political technologists to sway the vote for Orban, Russian leader Vladimir Putin's closest ally within the European Union.

Germany rehearses mass evacuations for a NATO war
Chancellor outlines reform agenda after coalition talks
The German chancellor announced a wide range of reforms following coalition talks.

Friedrich Merz outlined changes to the statutory health insurance system, the 2027 federal budget, and a tax reform for lower- and middle-income earners set to begin in 2027.

Merz described these as significant initiatives now entering a detailed planning phase.

"This is just the beginning," Merz said, adding it was "the start of a whole series of consultations that we will continue."
He said the measures were aimed at making the state "more modern and just" and strengthening public confidence in the country's ability to function.

The agreements show the coalition is able to move forward despite differing views, the chancellor said.

Merz said the goal is to strengthen public confidence in the state and restore trust where it has been lost, emphasizing recognition for those who contribute to the country's economy and society.

Merz plans temporary fuel tax cut amid Iran war
Germany is planning a temporary cut to fuel taxes after talks between coalition party leaders.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced that the government would reduce energy taxes on diesel and petrol by about 17 cents per liter (19.9 US cents) for two months.

Speaking on Monday morning, Merz said the relief should be passed on to consumers by oil companies to ease pressure from rising prices.

"This will very quickly improve the situation for motorists and businesses in the country," Merz said.

Prices at Germany's pumps have soared in recent weeks after the fighting in Iran blocked most of the passage of oil tankers through the crucial Strait of Hormuz .

"This conflict, this war, is the root cause of problems we also have in our own country," said Merz, of the conservative Christian Democrats.

The chancellor said he and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul were doing everything they could to work towards an end to the war.

Whatever the outcome, Merz warned that the war's effects were likely to be enduring.

"The German economy will face a significant burden over an extended period," he said.

The announcement followed a meeting with Markus Söder, who heads the Bavarian conservative Christian Social Union, and the center-left Social Democrat co-leaders Lars Klingbeil and Bärbel Bas.

The coalition also intends to allow employers to pay a tax- and contribution-free relief bonus of €1,000 ($1,170) in 2026.

To offset the resulting tax revenue shortfall, the tobacco tax will go up as early as 2026.

How Germans feel about daily fuel price freeze
Guten Tag from the DW newsroom in Bonn.

You join us as Germany’s ruling coalition prepares to tell us the outcome of a meeting of party leaders from the conservative CDU/CSU bloc and the center-left Social Democrats.

The talks have focused on the energy price crisis — a theme that has seen open disagreement emerge between the economy and finance ministers — and the coalition's upcoming reform program.

In other news, German retailers warn that strict data protection rules are hindering efforts to combat shoplifting.

We’ll also be tracking the effect of a strike by pilots from national carrier Lufthansa.

For these stories and more.

Stay with us for more on these and other stories out of Germany.