Marine Le Pen calls for VAT cut and windfall tax on TotalEnergies as government fuel aid deemed insufficient
Marine Le Pen on Friday denounced the government's fuel aid as "crumbs" and called for a VAT reduction on fuel from 20% to 5.5%, as well as a temporary windfall tax on TotalEnergies' superprofits. The Rassemblement National deputy spoke on ICI Nord, arguing fuel should be treated as an essential good. TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné has warned that such a tax would force the company to drop its current price cap of 1.99 euros per liter for gasoline and 2.25 euros per liter for diesel at its 3,300 stations in France.
Marine Le Pen on Friday denounced the French government's fuel aid as "crumbs" ("des miettes") and called for a sharp reduction in value-added tax on fuel, as well as a temporary windfall tax on TotalEnergies' superprofits.
The Rassemblement National deputy for Pas-de-Calais, speaking on ICI Nord on 8 May, said the government's approach amounted to "a way of giving crumbs to some and others" and urged support for all rural residents. She argued that fuel should be treated as an "essential good" and demanded the VAT rate be cut from 20% to 5.5%. To offset the revenue loss, Le Pen called for savings on "the state's lifestyle" and on contributions to the European Union.
Le Pen also said "a temporary surcharge must be put in place" targeting TotalEnergies' superprofits. TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné has warned that if such a tax were imposed, he could not maintain the company's current price cap. TotalEnergies announced on Thursday that it would keep its price caps at 1.99 euros per liter for gasoline and 2.25 euros per liter for diesel for May, in place since 8 April, across its 3,300 service stations in France.
The call comes after Le Pen had previously demanded a windfall tax on TotalEnergies on 2 May, and after TotalEnergies on 6 May threatened to end its fuel price cap if the government imposed such a tax.