In the gas the predictable increase of 7

the President of the purchasing power is back. Even if it leaves the Prime Minister reveal the measures. Thirteen months of the presidential election, the head of Government announced yesterday a shot grouped on energy prices: gel in a year of the gas tariffs, the price of electricity, the oil companies contribution CAP aid to offset the increase in fuel. All decisions taken Monday night at the Elysee Palace.

The Government is not remain impassive to the escalation of energy prices, which have already jumped 15 over a year. All began with the increase of 5.2 rates of gas applied on 1 April and on the increase with more than 20. Over five years, the increase reached 60. It is essentially due to soaring oil on which the price of gas is indexed. New record prices at the pump are also erode household portfolio. As electricity prices, which increased by 6 over a year, further increases are planned to finance the investments in power plants.

"This situation can be demagoguery or can answer sincere and pragmatic manner the difficulties encountered by the French, François Fillon said yesterday in response to a question from MP PS François Brottes." We are in a phase of French economic recovery, this phase of reboot, it relies mainly on consumption, this is the reason why we have taken decisions to curb the increase in the cost of energy for do not hamper the capacity of French consumers.

The Government thus runs the risk of resume with the framework of the price of energy. A real break with the more liberal policy displayed previously.

But, if he had done nothing, the French the would no doubt criticized, as the State control the historical operators EDF and GDF Suez. In the gas, the predictable increase of 7.5 in July would have led to pass invoice type of a French heated gas 1.080 euros to 1.160 EUR per year, argues the entourage of Eric Besson, the Minister of energy. In electricity, the increase should reach 5 per year, according to François Fillon.

The exercise is more difficult with the oil companies, which the State is not a shareholder. To alleviate the note of the drivers, the Government wants to revalue the kilometric fixed scale of 4.6 for the income tax in 2010, instead of the expected 1.6. A measure that will cost approximately 90 million and 5 million people will benefit. "A drop of water for an ocean of expectations", according to cfu-that select.

To finance this measure, the Government plans an assessment of the oil companies. "We have already practiced it several times to pay the premium to the tank, it is a decision that we will resume this year, but this time to support all professionals using many and who, because of the increase in the price of gasoline, are disabled in their professional activity," said François Fillon. Oil tankers had funded the premium to the tank 105 million in 2008 and 2009. It is a tax of 25 on supplies that they pass to price increases. The economy Minister, Christine Lagarde, Eric Besson, will meet Monday Total and other tankers to raise the subject. A meeting that promises to be tense.