Friedrich Merz, the Chancellor of Germany, is facing increasing pressure for swift action against rising fuel costs as the price of E10 gasoline has reached a new record for the fourth consecutive day. Thorsten Frei, the parliamentary leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which Merz leads, called for measures to provide relief to the people, especially starting from October 1.
Pressure on the Government
Frei emphasized in talks with the media: "People do not need hope for relief right now; they need relief." These statements come as the Social Democratic Party (SPD) has also called for quick action to assist drivers. However, the ruling parties still have differing opinions on how to help motorcyclists.
On Wednesday, August 16, 2026, the CDU state prime ministers announced in a meeting that Germany needs stability more than ever and supported unity within the CDU party. They argued that to rebuild voter trust, the focus should be on listening and political action rather than personal debates.
CDU Leadership Meeting and Upcoming Challenges
Merz, who is under severe pressure, especially after the CDU's poor performance in the Saxony-Anhalt state elections, is planning to hold a meeting with CDU leadership on Sunday evening. This meeting will take place after two state elections over the upcoming weekend. Merz has also canceled his planned trip to New York to participate in the United Nations General Assembly discussions.
In this statement, all eight CDU state prime ministers, including Daniel Günther from Schleswig-Holstein, Boris Rhein from Hesse, Sven Schulze from Saxony-Anhalt, Kai Wegner from Berlin, Michael Kretschmer from Saxony, Gordon Schnieder from Rhineland-Palatinate, Mario Voigt from Thuringia, and Hendrik Wüst from North Rhine-Westphalia, have signed. Their action comes ahead of the state elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin and emphasizes that the party should focus on rebuilding public trust rather than leadership debates.
Meanwhile, the government is under increasing pressure to act against rising fuel prices. Fuel prices continue to rise, raising further concerns among the public.
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