"It's been a long time since the French have noticed the increase in" fuel "prices and coincidentally we are returning 18 cents 10 days before the first round of the presidential election, even though according to our calculations, the State is pocketing probably 25 cents", declared Mr. Retailleau on France 2. "So we ask with Valérie Pécresse that the State restores all the sums he has received, around 25 cents".
Promised by the government in the face of soaring prices, a discount of at least 15 cents at the pump - in reality up to 18 cents including tax per liter of fuel for consumers in mainland France - comes into effect from Friday for relieve the budget of motorists.
It will be around 17 cents in Corsica where VAT is lower and 15 cents in Overseas France, where there is no VAT on petroleum products.
"Emmanuel Macron is campaigning with French money," accused the boss of LR senators.
“For months in the Senate, we have opened an account which accounts for all the announcements and expenses, it is tens of billions of euros. Never under the Fifth Republic has an electoral campaign been so short, so evaded , but never will it have cost the French so dearly", according to him.
Asked about information from Parisian - Today in France, according to which former President Nicolas Sarkozy will not go to Valérie Pécresse's last meeting on Sunday at Porte de Versailles, although invited, Mr. Retailleau indicated that he did not have " had this information".
"It's possible, but now it doesn't matter," he added.
© 2022 AFP