Government remains silent on plan to curb soaring fuel prices

When asked about steps to counter the dramatic increase in gasoline and diesel prices, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo told reporters he would not speak on the matter at that time. He reminded that the cabinet is continuously debating what measures could be viable. Finance Minister Riikka Purra and Finns Party parliamentary group leader Jani Mäkelä also declined to provide answers.

According to insiders, the government faces growing pressure to intervene, and the Finns Party may be willing to reduce the mandatory share of renewable fuels, a rule that raises pump prices because biofuels are costlier than fossil fuels. The renewable fuel quota was tightened earlier this year by three percentage points, a move that analysts estimate adds roughly four cents per litre to diesel. The quota has previously been used during past energy crises to help contain price spikes.