The price of fuel, which triggered the yellow vest crisis in 2018, remains a particularly sensitive issue in the run-up to early legislative elections.
To the point that to attract voters, certain parties have made it a priority. This is the case of the national demonstration that promises to restore the purchasing power of the French by lowering energy prices if they come to power:
“My first ambition is to reduce VAT from 20 to 5.5% on fuel, electricity, gas, fuel oil… because I believe that there are millions of French people who in our countries can no longer heat themselves or are forced to do it. Limit your trips,” declared Jordan Bardella on Friday, June 14, during a trip to the Loiret.
The majority against the reduction of VAT, the New Popular Front defends the price block
But this reduction would have a considerable cost, warns the presidential side. According to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the measure would mean a deficit of 16.8 billion euros for public finances. For this reason, the majority does not propose any measures to reduce fuel costs, but instead emphasizes ecological mobility, proposing in particular doubling the number of electric vehicles under social leasing.
Finally, the New Popular Front, for its part, calls for freezing the prices of basic food and energy products, including fuel. This procedure is possible thanks to the Commercial Code, but on condition that this price blocking is exceptional and motivated by a crisis situation.
Source: BFM TV
