French hauliers have announced several planned blockades on Saturday, to protest at spiralling fuel prices in the wake of the war in the Middle East and to call for government aid.
Spiralling prices for petrol and diesel since the US-Israeli attacks on Iran led to the closure of the Hormuz Strait have been spelling pain for drivers – and the problem is particularly acute for hauliers and transport companies.
Now the French hauliers association has announced blockades and other “symbolic” actions over what it says is inadequate government help.
Jean-Marc Rivera of the hauliers association Organisation des transporteurs routiers européens, said that over the next week a series of roadblocks, plus other symbolic actions, would take place in order to draw attention to their complaints.
He did not provide details of planned blocks, but blockades are planned for Lyon and Clermont-Ferrand on Saturday, March 28th.
Rivera told SudRadio: “Fuel represents 30 percent of our operating costs, it’s very important. We need prices lowered directly at the pump.”
The government is under pressure to help all motorists with the soaring cost of fuel, but so far aid has been targeted at businesses such as hauliers and fishermen.
Previously announced measures include extensions to tax deadlines and the option of business loans, but on Friday prime minister Sébastien Lecornu announced a ‘chèque energie‘, although this too will be for businesses, not households.
In order to ease fears of a possible shortage, the government announced on Thursday that it would allow the sale of diesel with a higher freezing point, which normally can only be sold in summer.
