Purchasing power: why Emmanuel Macron takes his time to decide

Jacques Serais with Manon Fossat 2:14 p.m., October 20, 2021

INTERVIEW

Lower taxes or fuel check?

The latest arbitrations are underway to help the French cope with rising fuel prices.

For the executive, scalded by the yellow vests crisis, the file is highly sensitive, less than six months before the presidential election.

But "the technical solution is difficult to land," one concedes within the government.

The Head of State wants at all costs to prevent public opinion from igniting.

And it is this parameter that is in everyone's mind at the Élysée.

Avoid "white collar demonstrations"

If nothing is leaking for the moment, the few advisers who agree to speak to journalists have two words in their mouths: "yellow vests".

Three years ago, almost at the same time of year, this movement took shape, triggered among other things by the carbon tax and the speed limit to 80km / h.

And this is what many fear in the entourage of the Head of State: that this dormant anger will end up waking up this fall at the worst possible time, six months before the presidential election.

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It is for this reason that the rise in the prices of gas, electricity and now fuels are taken very seriously and that Emmanuel Macron and Jean Castex take so long before deciding.

The Head of State and the Prime Minister also intend not to exclude part of the population from these measures.

"After the yellow vests, we do not want white-collar demonstrations either," analyzes an adviser.

The fuel check "will strengthen the cleavage"

On the consumer side, we are categorical.

The fuel check put on the table by the government is not an option.

This is what explains Pierre Chasseray, general delegate of the association 40 million motorists.

"This measure will strengthen the divide that exists between those who will touch it and those who will not touch it. So we must forget. The only possible measure is lower taxes," he said. saying that he totally disagrees with the comments made by Bruno Le Maire on Monday morning on Europe Matin, who considered this track too costly for the government. 

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"No, this is not true, a drop in taxes of 1 cent does not create a shortfall in the state coffers of 500 million euros. The average price of a liter of diesel and without lead in 2018 and 2019 was 15 cents lower than what we have today. So currently, almost 10 cents too much are collected by the State on the account of the increase in taxation, "detailed Pierre Chasseray.

"Reduced to the year, the overpayment on the back of the motorist is 5 billion", he continued.

Imminent announcements

In addition to the tracks envisaged by the government, the general delegate of the association 40 million motorists gave some tips to save money, such as switching off your engine when you are stationary for more than ten seconds or eco-driving again.

But there is no miracle cure, he says.

"When you drive on diesel, you can just wait for a drop in taxation. And for those who run on gasoline, the solution is to see if your vehicle is eligible for the" flexfuel "bioethanol conversion kit, which allows you to drive twice cheaper, "he said.

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After the Council of Ministers, which ended Wednesday noon, Emmanuel Macron and Jean Castex had lunch together.

Meetings must also take place Wednesday afternoon in Bercy and Matignon in order to fix what will have been decided during this lunch at the top.

Still, what is circulating in the corridors of the palace is that the end of the suspense is near.

After ten days of procrastination, the announcements are imminent.

Jean Castex should speak Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.