Paris (AFP)

Rather than a check to motorists, a "gas plant" according to Jean Castex, or a reduction in taxes - "it is not only gasoline" which increases - the government has chosen a third way: that of paying 3.8 billion to grant aid to all French people who earn less than 2,000 euros net per month, whether they have a car or not.

"A middle class compensation", estimated the Prime Minister in the 8:00 pm news from TF1.

The premium - tax-exempt, Matignon said - will be paid in one go and automatically, from the end of December by employers to employees and between January and February for other categories, such as retirees, self-employed or apprentices, without the need for any action. , said the Prime Minister.

A surprise solution, developed after several days of hesitation, in order to avoid, six months before the presidential election, a rise in disputes in this highly sensitive issue.

"We are told: you took 8 days to decide, well yes, it is a complicated subject", commented the head of government, defending the "fairest, most efficient" solution, while prices at the pump have reached historically high levels.

Additional gift announced Thursday, the gas price freeze will be extended until the end of 2022, instead of April, because the fall in prices will be slower than expected ", he said. All this, promised Jean Castex, taking the objective in 2022 "of a deficit of 5%, therefore sharply reduced compared to 2021".

A French fuels his vehicle on October 20, 2021 in Guipavas Fred TANNEAU AFP / Archives

After the announcement of a "shield" against the rise in gas and electricity, the executive was obsessed with making it "simple" and effective, aware that measures too complicated or burdened by threshold effects risked to be barely noticeable.

By its simplicity, such aid is reminiscent of the activity bonuses allocated after the yellow vests crisis.

But its attribution is even wider, while most of the aid decided since the start of the quinquennium has focused on the most modest.

"Wooden check"

Prices at the pump rose another 2 cents last week, reaching historic highs at 1.56 euros per liter for diesel on average, and 1.62 euros for unleaded petrol.

This aid is allocated to six times more people than the energy check, which is distributed to nearly 6 million poorest households.

A reduction in taxes was also being studied, but it is "very expensive".

According to Bercy, a drop of 1 cent in fuel taxes represents half a billion euros in lost revenue for the State.

An additional disadvantage, it did not allow for a means test.

Mr. Castex also highlighted the fact of making the country "less dependent on so-called fossil energy sources".

For several days, the oppositions on the right and on the left have been calling on the government to announce "offensive measures", between proposals for a temporary reduction in energy taxes, a reduction in VAT from 20% to 5.5% or even the introduction of 'a "floating tax".

Thursday evening, the right mocked, like Bruno Retailleau, president of the LR group in the Senate, "a new wooden check financed by debt".

Environmentalists, who pleaded for the establishment of an energy check, deplored that there is "no medium-term solution to limit dependence on the car."

"Neither fair (at 2,010 euros net we have nothing?) Nor especially effective in limiting the increase in the price at the pump," regretted the LFI deputy Eric Coquerel, whose party is campaigning to "block the prices" of fuels.

Marine Le Pen continued, for her part, to defend "her proposal to immediately lower the VAT from 20 to 5.5% on fuels, but also on gas, domestic fuel oil and electricity, according to a press release from her. party, the National Rally.

leb-mla-jmt-jk / cbn / tho

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