Strikes in oil refineries and fuel depots have lasted for almost three weeks, raising the specter of a fuel shortage throughout France, while 28.1% of service stations were experiencing difficulties on Monday, October 17.
>> Fuel shortage: follow the evolution of the situation live
In an attempt to stem the crisis, which drags on, half a dozen ministers met, from 5 p.m., at the Elysée Palace in Paris, around the President of the Republic.
For the executive, an obsession: to give prospects to the French. And it starts with the image of an executive at work. Around Emmanuel Macron, meet the ministers concerned by this crisis: the head of government, Elisabeth Borne, the Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, in charge of Energy, or even Clément Beaune, for Transport, round out the cast. If the president brings them together, it is to review the reasons for the crisis, which explains the difficulties of fuel supply. Facing the president, the ministers explain what has been done, such as the requisitions, and what more can be done.
The President of the Republic brings together these ministers to also harmonize the speeches and tune the violins between them, both in substance and in form. In particular because Monday morning again, on television sets, some may have given the impression of fumbling, evoking a rapid return to normal, but not for several days. However, Emmanuel Macron no longer wants messy communication. He himself has been able to give this feeling since the beginning of the crisis, for example by promising an improvement this week, which will probably not come.
Another objective of the meeting, above all not to appear overwhelmed by the situation, hence this message of mobilization hammered out by Emmanuel Macron for about ten days, which he again declined just now at the Paris Motor Show: he said it alongside the French who are having a hard time, and who are getting annoyed. And made a promise: the government “will continue to do the best”.