Published
Since this Friday, the price of fuel is 18 euro cents cheaper per liter in metropolitan France. What cause a rush on the service stations.
The discount is displayed in full in French service stations from this Friday.
AFP
“I’m so happy!” Nine days before the presidential election, motorists flocked on Friday to take advantage of the government discount of at least 15 cents per liter for all fuels and some stations were experiencing the crowds of the big days.
Faced with prices that have passed the bar of 2 euros per liter on average, and among other measures against inflation, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced this discount in mid-March for April 1, and for four months. Some contenders for the Elysée had then deemed this announcement “electoralist” or insufficient. It is “never enough” but “in any case it is a very important gesture”, defended Jean Castex, Friday.
Under 2 euros per liter
“It’s a godsend,” rejoices Didier Turpin, a 68-year-old retiree, at a service station in Laval. “We go on vacation so we take advantage of it,” he explains.
“I’m so happy!”, Enthuses Sidali Lameche, 25, home delivery man on a scooter, met in a Paris station where prices have dropped below 2 euros as in many stations. “I always put around 15 euros in my scooter. Before that it was a day, a day and a half maximum depending on the work. This will last me at least 2 days with the same price.»
Rebate or not, some are considering changing the type of vehicle. “Probably my next car will be a mixed car: electric or other, but not only diesel,” predicts Guy Gournay, 70, met in Laval.
Expected Rush
Professionals expect a large influx for a few days. “We expect a water hammer during the first days of April”, indicates an umbrella organization which notably represents independent service stations. “It is a point of vigilance”, confirmed the government, which “does not exclude that here and there, there are situations with stations which are temporarily dry.”
Cost of 3 billion euros
The rebate goes up to 18 cents including VAT per liter in mainland France, a difference which is explained by the amount of VAT applied in the various French territories. It will be around 17 cents in Corsica and 15 cents overseas.
Some distributor networks add their own promotions to the extent of the government, which will devote three billion euros to it. The price displayed at the pump includes the discount. Distributors have benefited from the upstream discount, at central purchasing level, since Sunday.
(AFP)