Guest on FranceinfoThe general secretary of the CGT union, Sophie Binet, deemed the measures announced by the government to address rising fuel prices, against a backdrop of tensions in the Middle East, "insufficient." The issue itself is very French: at the pump, the slightest increase is immediately noticeable and felt immediately, especially when a car remains the only option for getting to work.
With Brent crude oil rising above $110 a barrel, the government has unveiled a targeted aid package of approximately €70 million for fishermen, farmers, and truckers. Economy Minister Roland Lescure presents this response as a buffer for the sectors most vulnerable to energy costs. Targeted, therefore, and acknowledged as such.
Bercy, the bosses… and those forgotten by the full
Bercy, employers… and those left behind by fuel costs. Sophie Binet challenges this logic and accuses the government of focusing primarily on businesses. “Bercy is only talking to employers,” she declared, demanding consultations at Bercy with unions and employers' organizations to assess the impact on the economy and on employees. She specifically targets those who drive for lack of alternatives, citing home care workers and nurses—professions that involve early mornings and late evenings, for whom the cost of fuel feels like a tax on their labor.
The union representative also doesn't believe in asking distributors to make an effort, preferring to point the finger at oil companies and their profit margins. She calls for price controls that would also apply to sales from oil companies to distributors, not just at the service station, and highlights Total's profits, which she estimates at nearly €15 billion in 2025. According to her, the current price increases are unjustified given available stocks.
The political question remains, always a thorny one: how far can the state exert control without disrupting the market? Sophie Binet points out that a temporary price freeze existed in France until 1983, and that it is still used in some overseas territories, proof that it is not an idea that came out of nowhere. Between targeted aid and broader regulation, the debate resurfaces like a recurring theme with each price surge, highlighting the same dividing line: who should absorb the shock when oil prices rise again?
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