German Parliament Says Yes to Lower Fuel Tax

Apr 24, 2026, 10:50

Introduction

On Friday, the German parliament said yes to a new law. The law makes the fuel tax lower by 17 cents for each liter. The government wants to help people pay less for gasoline and diesel. At the same time, a politician from the FDP party said bad things about the Chancellor. He also said he wants to work with a far-right party. Also, the group Fridays for Future had protests in many cities.

Main Body

The Bundestag and the Bundesrat said yes to the new law. The law lowers the tax on gasoline and diesel by 17 cents per liter. The government says this will save people 1.6 billion euros. But some economists say the law is not good. They say it does not help poor people. They also say oil companies may not give the savings to customers. The vote in the Bundestag was 453 for the law and 134 against it. A politician from the FDP, Wolfgang Kubicki, wants to be the leader of his party. On Thursday, he used bad words about Chancellor Merz. He said Merz called the FDP ''politically dead''. The CDU party said Kubicki was not polite. Kubicki also said he wants to work with the far-right party AfD. Other FDP politicians said this is a bad idea. One FDP politician, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, said the party must stay in the center. She said moving to the right will hurt the party. On the same day, Fridays for Future called for protests. They said the Energy Minister helps the fossil fuel industry. Protests happened in about 60 cities and towns in Germany.

Conclusion

The government made a temporary fuel tax cut. Some people think it is good, but others are not sure. There is also political fighting inside the FDP party. And people are still protesting about energy policy.

Vocabulary Learning

bad
Not good.不好的，壞的。
Example:He used bad words about the Chancellor.
help
To make something easier for someone.幫助，讓某事對某人更容易。
Example:The government wants to help people pay less for gasoline.
law
A rule that everyone must follow.法律，所有人都必須遵守的規則。
Example:The parliament said yes to a new law.
protest
An event where people show they disagree.抗議，人們表達不同意見的活動。
Example:Fridays for Future had protests in many cities.
save
To keep money or not use it.節省，保留金錢或不使用它。
Example:This law will save people 1.6 billion euros.

Sentence Learning

On Friday, the German parliament said yes to a new law.
Subject: 'the German parliament'; verb phrase: 'said yes to' (meaning agreed); object: 'a new law'. Time phrase: 'On Friday'.本句主語為'the German parliament'，動詞短語'said yes to'表示同意，賓語為'a new law'。時間狀語'On Friday'位於句首。
The law makes the fuel tax lower by 17 cents for each liter.
Subject: 'The law'; verb: 'makes'; object: 'the fuel tax lower'; prepositional phrase: 'by 17 cents for each liter' indicates the amount of reduction.本句主語為'The law'，動詞'makes'，賓語'the fuel tax lower'，介詞短語'by 17 cents for each liter'表示降低的幅度。
The government wants to help people pay less for gasoline and diesel.
Subject: 'The government'; verb: 'wants'; infinitive phrase: 'to help people pay less for gasoline and diesel'. 'help people pay' uses a bare infinitive after 'help'.本句主語為'The government'，動詞'wants'，不定式短語'to help people pay less for gasoline and diesel'。注意'help'後接省略to的不定式'pay'。
At the same time, a politician from the FDP party said bad things about the Chancellor.
Time phrase: 'At the same time'; subject: 'a politician'; prepositional phrase: 'from the FDP party' modifies subject; verb: 'said'; object: 'bad things'; prepositional phrase: 'about the Chancellor'.本句時間狀語'At the same time'位於句首；主語為'a politician'，介詞短語'from the FDP party'修飾主語；動詞'said'；賓語'bad things'；介詞短語'about the Chancellor'表示關於誰。
Also, the group Fridays for Future had protests in many cities.
Adverb: 'Also' at the beginning; subject: 'the group Fridays for Future'; verb: 'had'; object: 'protests'; prepositional phrase: 'in many cities'.本句副詞'Also'位於句首；主語為'the group Fridays for Future'；動詞'had'；賓語'protests'；介詞短語'in many cities'表示地點。