Extended or increased aid, system for “long-distance riders”… What to remember from Sébastien Lecornu’s announcements on fuels

The government provides aid subject to income and kilometers traveled for certain workers. Aid for several sectors is extended or extended in May.

He had promised a “new aid package” a few days ago. It is now done, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has announced a new targeted boost in the face of the surge in fuel prices, partly linked to the war in the Middle East.

“All of the April aid will be extended,” indicated the head of government, following a ministerial meeting at the Élysée devoted to energy.

The government will also put in place a boost intended for low-income workers known as “high rollers” in the form of “flat rate aid of 20% per liter”. A particularly targeted support system which would concern 2.9 million French people subject to conditions of income and kilometers traveled.

Road hauliers will see their aid of 20 cents per liter extended next month. The aid of 30 to 35 cents intended for fishermen will also be extended in the face of rising fuel prices.

The agricultural sector will see its aid increase. Sébastien Lecornu announced “a four-fold increase in the support” already in place, going from 4 to around 15 euro cents per liter in May, said the Prime Minister. A “specific negotiation” will also be put in place for taxis and VTCs. The construction sector should also see aid “from the beginning of May”.

The head of government warned that other announcements could take place “if the crisis worsens”. “There is no question of us abandoning those who make the country live,” he declared from the steps of the Élysée.

150 million euros already released

Tuesday morning on RTL, the Minister of the Economy Roland Lescure announced that the “support measures” for the month of April would be extended into May. This plan of almost 70 million euros targeted road hauliers, farmers and fishermen.

During the day, the government announced that 6 billion euros in spending savings could be made in 2026 to offset the cost of the war in the Middle East. This effort would weigh four billion euros on the State and two billion in “the social sphere”, specified the Minister of Action and Public Accounts.

Faced with the crisis, the government has already committed 150 million euros in support spending in the face of the crisis, including 90 million euros in sectoral aid and 60 million to strengthen the energy check, detailed Bercy.

These announcements come while uncertainty still hovers in the Middle East. The ceasefire that entered into force between Iran and the United States on April 8 is due to end on Wednesday. Donald Trump considered the extension of the truce “very unlikely”. The prospect of a soon reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world’s oil and gas transits, also seems to be receding. Faced with the maintenance of the American blockade, Iran announced on Saturday that it would regain “strict control” of the strait, reversing its decision to reopen it. And Tehran promised to “respond soon” to the announcement of Washington’s seizure of the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Touska in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday.