This Monday, June 24, the National Group officially presented its program for the legislative elections of June 30 and July 7.
And several measures are aimed directly at motorists, whose anger was, in particular, one of the driving forces of the yellow vest crisis in the fall of 2018.
Reduction of VAT on fuels
The National Assembly first intends to reduce VAT on fuel, a reduction that will affect all energy products such as fuel oil or gas. This measure was already taken during the 2022 presidential elections, and Marine Le Pen then called for a reduction in VAT from 20% to 5.5% on prices at the pump.
This VAT reduction is particularly denounced by the presidential side. According to Bercy, the deficit would represent 16.8 billion euros for public finances. In one year, this VAT reduction would cost 7 billion euros, defends Jordan Bardella.
The New Popular Front calls for freezing fuel prices.
The reduction of VAT does not automatically guarantee a reduction in prices for the consumer, and distributors can maintain their margins by leaving prices quite high. Furthermore, if prices at the pump reached high levels again at the end of winter, they have since fallen again: since mid-May diesel has been around 1.70 euros per liter on average.
End of EPZs and defense of thermal cars
Another measure that aims directly at motorists: “elimination of Low Emission Zones”, we can read in the RN program. These zones were to be implemented in around forty cities by 2025, to progressively prohibit the entry of older vehicles, considered the most polluting, and improve air quality.
This system was already partially relaxed by the government in March. Only the metropolises of Paris and Lyon retain the obligation to prohibit the circulation of vehicles classified Crit’Air 3 (diesel cars over 14 years old and gasoline models over 19 years old, first registered before 2006).
Among the prohibitions that the RN wants to reverse is also that of marketing thermal cars in 2035. However, this obligation has been voted on at the European Union level, so it remains to be seen to what concrete extent the RN could reverse it. extent.
“Clean and affordable” cars
At the same time, the RN wants to “encourage French manufacturers to develop clean and affordable vehicles.” However, French manufacturers are already working on this type of vehicle, like all major global groups, with the aim of making an electric car cost less than 25,000 euros, or even less than 20,000 euros without bonuses.
Citroën is currently starting the marketing of the new C3, available in a 100% electric version starting at 23,000 euros (bonuses excluded). Dacia markets a new version of its Spring, its small electric car manufactured in China. Renault is working on a modern version of the 4L, while Fiat will present its new electric Panda on July 11.
This issue of affordable and more environmentally friendly cars was also addressed in the Ensemble programme. In the event of victory, Gabriel Attal announced the doubling of the number of cars covered by social leasing, which would increase to 100,000 cars financed per year.
Source: BFM TV
