Not “Professorial or moralizing tone” towards the French, but no announcement either. The council of ministers, Wednesday 1isApril did not lead to measures in favor of individuals, while the average prices of a liter of diesel (2.20 €) and SP95-E10 gasoline (2 €) reached peaks in France. In any case, not for several days. “We are not going to pour down billions of euros of which we do not yet have the beginnings of a cent.”David Amiel, Minister of Action and Public Accounts, immediately told the press.
He very quickly made it clear that he did not intend to joke with the French’s money. HAS” 2026 will not be 2022 [avec le « quoi qu'il en coûte » mis en place dans la foulée de la guerre en Ukraine]the aid which has been announced at this stage of the crisis is targeted towards the sectors which need it the most »he recalled, before stating the “prince” from the government: “One euro spent will mean one euro saved elsewhere.â€
“We can’t control everything”
His colleague and government spokesperson Maud Bregeon was less inflexible. “We clearly said, when we presented our 70 million euro plan, that it was not a balance of all accounts. We will eventually be able to adapt our system, in particular with a gesture towards the French who drive a lot to work.”he explained to the delegated ministers in charge of energy.
She referred in particular to nurses or home helpers. But for this possible aid, the government is navigating by sight, wishing “Adapt your device according to the situation”and gives itself a few more days before new announcements. “Faced with the great volatility of prices, we cannot control everything”avoué Maud Bregeon.
Unlike the oil shocks of the 1970s, the State no longer sets fuel prices, but it collects two taxes – the excise on petroleum products (formerly TICPE) and VAT. If the first, which depends on volumes, is set to decrease, the second, which is indexed to prices, therefore increased in March.
The price of a liter of fuel.
© (Infographic NR)
“There is no prize pool”
But the Minister of Public Accounts refutes any notion of « pactole »because these mechanically cause a “France’s interest rate hike”. “We will transparently present the figures as soon as they are consolidated.”he promised. “There is no prize pool”commented Maud Bregeon who brushed aside the idea raised by Laurent Wauquiez according to which the State would have garnered « 2 à 3 milliards d’euros supplémentaires » since the start of the war in Iran. “It can’t be counted in billionsâ€she assured.
Following the cry of alarm from Dan Jorgensen, European Energy Commissioner, who on Tuesday called on the Twenty-Seven to reduce their fuel consumption, the government plans to use this additional influx of money to prepare for the future, by focusing on the electrification of society. “We have a duty to protect the French against the geopolitical shocks which continue to multiply.”insisted David Amiel and Maud Bregeon, while the plan for the electrification of the economy, the contours of which must still be refined, will be presented “ in the coming days ». With the aim of reducing France’s dependence on fossil fuels by 2030.
In the meantime, Maud Bregeon has also moved forward « the recourse to energy sobriety of the state » in the event of fuel supply difficulties in the coming weeks, ruling out for the moment any risk of shortage.
