the petition of 40 million motorists exceeds one million signatories

2024-04-12 10:21:45

By Emma Confrere

Published 3 hours ago, Updated 4 minutes ago

The petition points to the increase in fuel prices, of 32 cents in one year for SP95 and 21 cents for diesel. dusanpetkovic1 / stock.adobe.com

While pump prices have increased since the start of the year, this initiative is reminiscent of that which launched the yellow vest movement in 2018.

Capping the price of fuel at 1.50 euros per liter? This is the proposal from the French users’ association, 40 million motorists, which it puts forward in one of its petitions, launched on Wednesday. While prices at the pump have increased considerably since mid-January – now bringing a liter of SP98 to around 1.99 euros, and that of diesel to 1.81 euros – discontent is growing among consumers, who see the fuel bill increasing week after week.

“The State must act urgently to reform taxation on fuels, calls the association, in order to moderate their prices and preserve the mobility and purchasing power of French households”. The petition points to the increase in fuel prices, of 32 cents in one year for SP95 and 21 cents for diesel, “i.e. an average additional cost of just over 200 euros per year for each motorist”. “When we go to the pump, we are no longer in a price to pay, we are in a ransom on the right to drive, this is not acceptable”launched Wednesday on France Bleu Pierre Chasseray, general delegate of 40 million motorists.

The organization’s appeal is visibly shared by a large number of French people: its petition currently has 1,038,796 signatures, gathered in just a few days, specifies in Figaro 40 million motorists. Pierre Chasseray calls for playing on taxes, which weigh around 60% of the final price, “excess taxation” to his eyes.

While many French people will be on their vacation road again this weekend, prices at the pump seem far from falling. In question, the price of the barrel and the gradual cessation of promotional operations by distributors. This price dynamic occurs in an already difficult economic context, with inflation around 5% in 2023 and forecasts clouded by the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East. However, this massively supported petition is reminiscent of that of Priscillia Ludosky who launched the yellow vest movement in 2018 and who quickly exceeded one million signatures. Once again, fuel taxation is in the crosshairs of motorists.