Laurent Jacobelli, a spokesperson for the Rassemblement National (RN), said he wants a significant reduction in the value-added tax on gasoline this Wednesday [1].
The proposal seeks to lower the tax rate from 20% [2] to 5.5% [2]. This move targets the financial pressure on French motorists following fuel price spikes linked to conflict in the Middle East [2].
Jacobelli said this during an appearance on the TF1 morning programme «Bonjour» [1]. He said the current tax burden is unsustainable for citizens facing rising costs at the pump.
The Rassemblement National has positioned this tax cut as a primary measure to provide immediate relief to households. By lowering the VAT to 5.5% [2], the party suggests that the government can directly lower the retail price of fuel for the general public.
This proposal arrives amid ongoing debates regarding the cost of living in France. The RN said the state should prioritize the purchasing power of drivers over tax revenue from energy consumption.
While the proposal focuses on domestic relief, critics have noted that such a drastic reduction in VAT may conflict with European Union law [2]. The tension between national fiscal policy and EU directives remains a central point of contention for the party's economic platform.
Jacobelli said the measure is necessary to protect the economy from the volatility of global oil markets. He said the burden of geopolitical instability should not fall solely on the shoulders of French drivers [2].
“reduce the value-added tax on gasoline from 20% to 5.5%”
The proposal by the Rassemblement National reflects a populist economic strategy aimed at capturing the frustration of rural and suburban voters who are most dependent on personal vehicles. By targeting the VAT, the RN is challenging both the current French administration's fiscal priorities and the regulatory constraints of the European Union, signaling a willingness to prioritize national price relief over regional legal alignment.
