Élisabeth Borne announced a new measure to combat fuel price inflation, as prices threaten to cross the two euros per liter mark. Distributors will be authorized to sell gasoline “ at a loss ” for a few months.
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Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne announced that distributors will be able to sell gasoline “ at a loss » for a few months to allow them to “ lower prices further », in an interview posted online Saturday September 16 on the website of the Parisian. “ With this unprecedented measure, we will have tangible results for the French, without subsidizing fuel. », she assured, after recalling that selling at a loss had been prohibited by law since 1963.
The head of government did not accept the opposition’s proposals which call for either a rebate like a year ago, or a reduction in gasoline taxation to deal with the surge in fuel prices which have reached the bar of 2€/L. “ Everyone takes their part “, she affirmed, assuring that it “ is normal to involve large industrialists ”, while recalling that “ the responsibility of the State is also to reduce its deficit and its debt “.
Gas station unions consider the measure impossible
This announcement aroused the astonishment of Francis Pousse, president of the Mobilians professional union which represents 5,800 traditional service stations, excluding supermarkets. In the eyes of the trade unionist, this new measure is simply a response to large stores, allowing them “ to fight » in this ultra-competitive sector, while the market price « will soon exceed 1.99 euros “. Price at which TotalEnergies has capped its liter.
“ We, gas station attendants, it is out of the question that we sell at a loss “, he told AFP. Before adding: “ My members live on 40, 50% or even more from the sale of fuel, so if they sell at a loss, I give them three months “. In an already very tense market, he recalls that the net margin of traditional stations is “ one to two cents » per liter in normal times.
Mr. Pousse also says to himself “ skeptical », about the effect of this measure on purchasing power. Because if the prices of supermarket suppliers continue to increase, they will not be able to “ can’t afford to lose 15 cents on every liter of gasoline “. No distributor or oil group contacted by AFP on Saturday evening wanted to react immediately to the head of government’s announcement.
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Fabien Roussel spent a “ very bad message »
Asked about the comments of the national secretary of the PCF, Fabien Roussel, who this week called on the French “ to invade gas stations and supermarkets », Ms Borne said to herself “ surprised » by statements which were not “ in his habits “.
“ I called him to tell him that it was a very bad message and that political leaders had to be very careful with their words in a context where there may be anger among some of our fellow citizens. “, she said.
On the question of purchasing power, the head of government rejected the RN’s proposal to eliminate VAT on food products, calling on the far-right party to read ” studies which have proven that going from 5.5% to 0% is often not reflected in prices “.
(With AFP)