French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced a fuel aid package on Thursday to support citizens facing rising energy costs.

The measures come as France grapples with the economic fallout of the conflict in the Middle East, specifically the war in Iran, which has triggered a sharp increase in fuel prices.

Speaking from Matignon in Paris, Lecornu said a total aid package of 710 million euros [1]. A primary component of this plan is the increase of fuel assistance for high-mileage drivers, which will rise from 50 euros to 100 euros [2].

Despite the financial support, the Prime Minister rejected calls for a broad reduction in fuel taxes. "We refuse any general indiscriminate reduction in fuel taxation," Lecornu said [3].

To prevent price gouging, the government is launching a plan to conduct 500 inspections of gas stations [4]. While some reports suggest this plan was announced on Sunday, May 20, other records indicate the details were finalized during Thursday's press conference [4]. These controls are intended to target abusive price hikes at the pump.

The announcement arrives on the 83rd day of the Middle East war [5], as the French government attempts to stabilize purchasing power without compromising national tax revenue. The administration is prioritizing targeted aid for the most vulnerable, and those who rely most heavily on their vehicles for work, rather than implementing a flat tax cut that would benefit all drivers regardless of income.

“We refuse any general indiscriminate reduction in fuel taxation”

The French government is attempting a delicate balancing act by providing targeted financial relief to high-mileage drivers while refusing to lower fuel taxes. By opting for direct aid and regulatory inspections rather than a tax cut, the administration aims to mitigate the immediate impact of the Iranian conflict on consumers without creating a permanent hole in the national budget or incentivizing higher fuel consumption.