According to several sources, the government is considering abolishing the fuel check, an aid of €100 promised to low-income households to compensate for the rise in prices at the pump. This brutal decision will cost the most precarious French people dearly.
End of the fuel check: A brutal budgetary turning point
The Minister of Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire announced this week a savings plan of 10 billion euros. And it seems that to achieve these savings, the Government is seriously considering eliminating the fuel check. After the policy of “whatever it takes”, it’s time forbudgetary austerity.
The government now expects growth of only 1% in 2024, forcing the state to reduce its spending. On the menu: 10 billion euros in immediate savings, and an additional 12 billion in 2025.
The end of the fuel check, a hard blow for the most modest
Among the savings measures is the pure and simple elimination of the fuel check. This blow will deprive 1.6 million low-income households of €100 in aid to pay for their fill of gasoline or diesel..
However, the government had committed to paying this exceptional bonus in the event of a surge in prices at the pump beyond €2 per liter. The measure was to support the purchasing power of the most precarious French people.
Alas, the fuel check is sacrificed on the altar of budgetary rigor. Even if prices soar, low-income households will not be entitled to anything. Goodbye to the €100 promised to cover the cost of commuting.
Other savings planned
The abolition of the fuel check is not the only measure affecting French people with modest incomes. The envelope MaPrimeRenov’ for energy renovation is revised downwards, as is public development aid.
Employees will also have to contribute more to financing their personal training account. So many decisions that put a strain on the budgets of the most vulnerable households.
My name is Michael. I am a journalist for this magazine where I analyze and break down current events in order to provide you with articles that will allow you to have as nuanced and fair an understanding of global issues as possible. Passionate about creating bridges between stories and people, I joined this site to practice interactive journalism, where each article is an open dialogue with the reader.
