the possibility of selling at a loss will be effective from “early December”, declares Bruno Le Maire

Something promised, something due, according to the Minister of the Economy. The possibility for distributors to temporarily sell fuel at a loss will be “effecti[ve] from the beginning of December » And “ will last six months »in any case according to the proposal that will be made by the government to parliamentarians, announced Bruno Le Maire, Monday September 18. “I hope for the 1^er December, since the text of the law will be examined in the embly at the beginning of October »he said on France 2.

Its precision arrives after the announcement of such a possibility on Saturday by the Prime Minister, Elisabeth Bornein an interview with Parisian. While selling at a loss has been prohibited by law since 1963, the government wishes to temporarily authorize it in order to help the French cope with inflation which persists and results in fuel prices which rise in fuel stations. service.

A presentation of the system at the end of September

“With this unprecedented measure, we will have tangible results for the French, without subsidizing fuel”promised Saturday M^me Borne, uring that thus, “ everyone takes their part”. “ It is normal to involve large industrialists,” she affirmed, while recalling that “the responsibility of the State is also to reduce its deficit and its debt”.

“Our method is to engage everyone, all economic players, in this fight against inflation”specified Bruno Le Maire on Monday, because “the State cannot bear the cost of inflation alone, otherwise it will widen the deficits”.

The system will be presented to the Council of Ministers on Wednesday September 27, said government spokesperson Olivier Véran. It will be part of the bill on commercial renegotiations between industrial suppliers and distributors. The deadline for the system to come into force set on Monday by Bruno Le Maire is explained by ” the weather [que le texte] be adopted » by the embly and the Senate.

For individuals, such a commercial operation could represent a saving of“half a euro” per liter, estimated government spokesperson Olivier Véran, interviewed on RTL on Sunday.

A price increase of 8% over two months

The government continues to point out the external causes of this increase which is hurting the wallets of the French. As of Friday, September 8, the liter of unleaded 95 stood at 1.96 euros on average, up 8% over two months, and that of diesel, at 1.88 euros (+ 13%).

Many distributors have carried out fuel sales operations at cost price in recent months. Most had committed last week to continuing them until the end of the year when they were summoned by the Minister of Energy Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher.

Although it has ruled out a general rebate at the pump, as it did in 2022, the government has for weeks continued to multiply announcements and calls for “solidarity” distributors and suppliers, in order to extend this type of operation.

Last week, TotalEnergies, which manages a third of the service stations in France, responded by announcing to extend the cap on the price of gasoline to 1.99 euros per liter in its stations, beyond the end of 2023.

Francis Pousse, president of the Mobilians professional union representing 5,800 service stations excluding supermarkets, however expressed his indignation to Agence France-Presse in reaction to the announcement of the measure: “My members live 40, 50%, or even more, from the sale of fuel, so if they sell at a loss I give them three months [pour mettre la clé sous la porte] ». He also said to himself “skeptical” on the beneficial effect of this measure on purchasing power.