French refineries blocked as gas hits record €2 per litre
Ramin Mazaheri
Press TV, Paris
A coalition of truckers, farmers, fishermen and public contractors are blocking refineries as oil prices in France have hit an all-time high, surpassing 2 euros per litre.
Added to higher costs at the pump is inflation in prices of food and general goods, as well as looming shortages of vital industrial commodities. France could be headed for a spring of economic discontent amid a presidential election.
Last week the European Union decided against sanctioning Russian fossil fuels, which would have provoked catastrophic economic consequences.
However, France has just announced plans to end Russian gas and oil imports in just five years. They also announced a package of measures designed to protect French businesses and consumers from rampant inflation, but there’s not much they can do about the actual price of oil.
The government recently announced a rebate of 15 cents per litre on all gasoline from April 1st until August 1st, but they didn’t do one thing in their power - reduce gasoline taxes.
In France almost two-thirds of the price of gasoline comes from taxes. Gas taxes are "regressive" and not "progressive" because they hurt the lower classes more than the rich and the Yellow Vest movement was initially sparked in 2019 over an increase in gas taxes.
Gas prices back then were just €1.50 per litre, illustrating how precarious the situation is for the average Frenchman, and perhaps also for politicians facing re-election.
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