France Weighs Targeted Fuel Aid as Iran War Pushes Up Costs (1)

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has asked ministers to prepare measures to help individuals who depend on cars after fuel prices surged on the Iran war.

“While I don’t believe in blindly paying out billions, I am in favor of targeted aid,” he said Thursday at a press conference in Bordeaux.

The government has already announced very limited fuel subsidies for some sectors such as trucking and fishing, and an expanded distribution of energy support to low-income households. But it has so far avoided broader, costly measures after indiscriminate outlays in 2022 contributed to expanding a budget deficit the country ...