It is not yet 5 am this April 1st. Waiting in the car park of a petrol station bordering a fast lane in Strasbourg, Franck, who works in an industrial cleaning company, waits in a corner, engine off. Yet there is not a cat at the pump. Shouldn’t fuel prices down 18 cents today ? No queues, no cars registered in Germany as was the case in the past weeks. And for good reason, the price terminal still displays prices well above 2 euros per litre…
Bad April Fools? When questioned, the gas station attendant pretends not to be too aware: “We paid him at a high price but maybe when the shift change at 6 am they will change the prices. In the meantime, Franck waits in his car. “I thought it was done since midnight. I waited until the last drop and there frankly, with the planned drop, it’s worth the wait, it’s going to pay me my lunch. “Same topo in the city center in another sign. “The pumps are reset at 6 a.m., we have to wait for the change of shifts,” replies the attendant kindly. “There will be a reduction of 18 cents? “No, 15 cents.” Not enough to annoy Jacqueline, met a little later in the morning at another station. “Below 2 euros with everything that is happening at the moment, it is still good, I will finally be able to go see my children this weekend, explains the retiree. “Don’t take us for idiots either… grumbles Hervé. It’s that taxes less, we’ll end up paying it anyway, it’s done for the elections.” “That’s good, tries a motorist, even if I have the impression that the price has increased in recent daysthen the reduction is less visible.
Cheaper than in Germany
Ernst, a 50-year-old from Kehl in Germany, who came especially to refuel, displays a big smile. “Today, the Germans love Mr. Macron! “he assures. David, he “doesn’t give a damn about French politics”. This resident of Kehl, came to take advantage of this first day of the government system, even if it means queuing, like many other of his compatriots. It must be said that the low-cost station is only a few hundred meters from the border. ” Even if fuel taxes have decreased in Germany in recent days, it is still around 30 cents more expensive than here! he says. For his part, Philippe, a pensioner from Strasbourg, “is a little surprised to see the Germans benefit from this reduction of 15 to 18 centimes, “financed” by the French State. “While acknowledging that this “is only local” and that “it’s been forty years that it’s been in the opposite direction. It is normally cheaper in Germany. “Benjamin, a Franco-German, does not ask questions and “just hopes that it will last” because “it is still too expensive. Everyone needs their car, ”says the young man.
The line lengthens. At the pumps, inscriptions on A4 sheets taped hastily ask customers to pay before serving. “To avoid theft” we are told. At the checkout, the gas station attendant is not idle and goes through transactions. “The Germans easily represent 50% of customers today,” she explains. But don’t worry, the station had prepared for this first day of lower prices. “The tanks are almost full. It’s going to be fine, ”assures the gas station attendant, delighted with such an influx…