“The energy crisis should not enrich anyone”: Lecornu promises to take stock of tax surpluses every ten days

The government will take stock “every ten days” of the tax surpluses generated by the rise in fuel prices, itself the result of the conflict in the Middle East, Sébastien Lecornu announced this Monday evening.

“The energy crisis linked to the war in Iran should not enrich anyone. The State is playing for transparency: every ten days, we will publish what fuel taxes bring in,” the Prime Minister wrote on the social network X.

To date, in March-April, the surge in prices at the pump has generated 190 million euros in additional tax revenue compared to the same period last year, he said.

The French consume less, which leads to “fewer fixed taxes (excise)”, but the prices are higher, which generates “more VAT”. “The result is a surplus of revenue” which will “fully” finance the aid promised to the affected sectors and “high rollers”, explained the head of government.

The surplus “will not be preserved by the State: it will fully finance the 380 million euros in aid already announced,” added Sébastien Lecornu.

TotalEnergies encouraged to cap its prices

In the immediate future, Sébastien Lecornu has not considered specific taxation of oil companies. He instead encouraged TotalEnergies to “generously cap pump prices” to redistribute excess profits.

TotalEnergies currently caps the price of unleaded gasoline in France at 1.99 euros per liter and that of diesel at 2.25 euros per liter (2.09 during the May holidays). The group announced that it would maintain this policy as long as the crisis in the Middle East lasts.

Under severe budgetary constraints, the government has limited itself since the start of the crisis to targeted aid for the sectors most affected by the rise in fuel prices.