France's ‘green’ tax on lorries suspended after protests
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The French government has suspended the “green” tax on lorries which provoked violent demonstrations in Brittany last weekend.
The so-called ecotaxe, devised by former President Nicolas Sarkozy, was part of the same pan-European flurry of climate-protecting legislation as the green levies on energy bills which are to be scaled back in Britain.
From the new year, both French and foreign lorries were due to pay up to €0.20 a kilometre (17p) to use non-toll roads in France. Breton farmers and food industry workers have staged a series of protests against the tax, culminating in violent clashes with police last Saturday.
The Bretons complained the charge on lorries – despite a 30 per cent reduction for far-flung areas – would destroy what remains of the region’s struggling food-processing industry. The Prime Minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, told a delegation of Breton politicians in Paris that the tax would be suspended and revised but not entirely abandoned.
“Confrontation must give way to dialogue,” Mr Ayrault said. “Courage is not obstinacy. Courage is to listen... and to search solutions which will avoid a spiral of violence.”
With President François Hollande’s popularity slipping in a recent poll to 26 per cent, the government could not afford to alienate a traditionally left-leaning region.
The suspension of the tax will also deepen tensions in the socialist-green coalition government. Green politicians complain that environment-protecting legislation should not be sacrificed for short-term economic problems.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments