Do Politicians Manipulate Gasoline Prices?

This Wall Street Journal article points to a study by the IMF that seems to show that there are political implications to some of the price changes in fuel. I tend to think that it is more likely a collusion between politicians and oil producers, or even the producers alone, that are manipulating prices to effect the voting outcome rather than the politicians manipulating the oil giants. But then, as a Peak Oil believer, I am a bonafide conspiracy nut anyway. It shouldn't be a surprise. Anytime you have such vast sources of money concentrated in so few, and relatively anonymous, hands you are going to see power exercised.
[WSJ Link: Do Politicians Manipulate Gasoline Prices?]