Jean Castex has just announced that from April 1, a “discount at the pump of 15 cents per liter” will be granted to motorists. This measure, valid for all fuels, will cost the State around 2 billion euros, according to the statements of the Prime Minister to the newspaper Le Parisien.
Faced with soaring fuel prices which now easily exceed €2 per litre, the Government is finally taking a measure applicable to all French people : whether motorists, truck drivers, farmers or fishermen. Jean Castex announces a fuel discount of 15 cents per litre” from 1er April.
A discount for a period of 4 months
All fuels are affected by this measure. ” This means that for every 60 liters you will save 9 euros »explains the Prime Minister to our newspaper colleagues The Parisian. Motorists will be able to take advantage of this “offer” for 4 months, i.e. until July 31, 2022.
“ This is not a tax cut ” assures Jean Castex who explains that this process would have been long and tedious to set up and that it would not have made it possible to help everyone, such as professionals who are exempt from taxes. This discount, which the distributors will apply and which the State will reimburse them, will cost a little more than 2 billion euros. Given the higher prices of oil barrels, the question of additional tax revenues arises. Jean Castex ensures that “ if prices remain at this level in the first half of 2022, tax revenue on fuels would increase by less than 2 billion euros » and conclude ” Everything is returned to the French. »
A gesture from oil companies too?
In a second time Jean Castex calls the tankers “ to make an additional gesture » on their side, “ given their financial situation he says. ” If the State makes an effort of 15 cents per litre, and (the oil companies and distributors) make an effort of 5 cents, for example, it is indeed 20 cents that must end up in the pocket of the French. » he explains.
As for the fact that it is a purely electoral measure less than a month before the Presidential election, the Prime Minister brushes aside the idea out of hand: “ The first concern of the French people I meet on my travels is the price at the pump. Can you see me saying to them, “Move on, there’s nothing to see!” because there is an election in less than thirty days? It is not my conception of my responsibility.»
TO READ. Presidential 2022. Fuel prices at the heart of the debates
