France

Paris, September 21, 2026. Diesel fuel has hit a new record in France on Sunday, at 2.4097 euros per liter on average, according to an analysis by AFP based on prices displayed by over 8,700 gas stations on the Ministry of Economy's website, Prix-carburants.gouv.fr. Unleaded 95 gasoline is at 2.17 euros, and SP98 is at 2.28 euros. Since September 11, the average diesel fuel price has not fallen below 2.30 euros; on Thursday, nearly 700 gas stations were displaying prices over 2.50 euros per liter, including about 70 above 2.70 euros.

In the face of this surge, fueled according to the French press by tensions in the Middle East and disruptions to oil supplies, Sébastien Lecornu is chairing two meetings at Matignon on Monday: the first, at 11 am, with nine ministers and central administration directors, focused on fuel supplies; the second, at 3:30 pm, dedicated to "short- and medium-term support" for the French people. The government is considering extending or increasing the "gros rouleurs" bonus of 100 euros, which has been extended beyond September 30 according to Commerce Minister Serge Papin, although only 1.5 million of the 3 million potential beneficiaries have applied for it so far.

The crisis is making its way into the presidential campaign. Manuel Bompard, from La France insoumise, is denouncing a "denial of reality" by the government and calling for a price freeze at the pump. Marine Le Pen is proposing a 5.5% VAT, estimated to be worth between 12 and 15 billion euros, which the government deems "untenable". Raphaël Glucksmann is calling for the energy check to be tripled to 500 euros. Emmanuel Macron, who has acknowledged that the global energy market is "under tension", is set to be interviewed on Thursday at 8 pm on TF1 and France 2, after taking advantage of his trip to New York for the UN General Assembly, where he is meeting with Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, to discuss a G7 on energy and "secure" supplies.

On the ground, motorists are crossing borders: in Andorra, where diesel fuel was priced at 1.677 euros on Tuesday compared to over 2 euros in France, gas stations in the Pas de la Case area are seeing an influx of French drivers, like Olivier Perramond, for whom "the deal is done". Others are heading to Spain or Belgium. On Thursday, fishermen had blocked oil depots in the Mediterranean.