Paris (AFP)
PCF presidential candidate Fabien Roussel on Thursday called on the government to "quickly" institute a "floating tax" on fuels to cushion soaring prices at the pump.
While taxes represent 60% of the price of a liter of fuel, "I propose to make a floating tax on gasoline as was done at the time by the Jospin government", which "allows to lower the prices. taxes when the price of the barrel goes up so that it does not weigh on the purchasing power of our fellow citizens ", described Mr. Roussel on Cnews.
He also wished for a "control of distributors so that they reflect the reduction in this tax on the price of gasoline", and called on the State to "participate in the financing of public transport in urban areas so that they are free ".
The government is studying "protective measures" for the French if fuel prices were to continue to rise "over time", its spokesman Gabriel Attal announced the day before.
He mentioned "several possible avenues", including a "reduction in taxes" and "specific aid", while specifying that "the decision has not been taken".
Fabien Roussel judged "of course" possible a movement like that of the "yellow vests", launched in November 2018, because "in the fight for the preservation of the climate", this government has for "obsession" to "tax the wallet of the French to force them "to change their habits. But "this is not the way to do it", he said, advocating on the contrary incentives "much stronger for the purchase of used vehicles or even new" which are clean.
For gas and electricity, the Communist candidate reiterated his proposal for a "30% reduction in taxes on bills" and accused the government of being "inflated" when he proposed a "tariff shield" against the rise in the price of gas: "it blocks prices after the incredible increases and will keep them high when they fall, to reimburse" for the shortfall ".
© 2021 AFP