French election: cost of living crisis top of voters minds

Like a lot of Europe, hovering meals and vitality prices are a high concern for a lot of French voters forward of the first spherical of the nation's presidential ballot on Sunday.

Within the suburbs of Lyon, a so-called solidarity retailer sells merchandise at a less expensive value, due to donations from people, meals banks and supermarkets.

“Our suppliers allow us to supply merchandise 30 % under the typical market value,” supervisor Christine Vincent informed Euronews:

Those that come into the store are chosen in response to their monetary means. Most are both aged or single moms, like Aurélie - a mom of three.

"I've an 8-month-old son and I pay €2 euros for child meals as a substitute of €4 - I halve my invoice," she stated.

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Immediately we’ve ended up poor.

However the price of dwelling disaster in France is way from new and brought about widespread demonstrations throughout France throughout 2018.

Avelino, 66, says he joined France’s so-called 'Yellow Vest' protest motion in a bid to defend buying energy.

"Immediately we’ve ended up poor. I've 1200 euros per 30 days, and now I pay 600 euros for a 58 sq. metre flat. I’ve not been in a position to warmth my dwelling for 5, six years. As a 'Gilet Jaune', I wished to shake issues up. I wished issues to vary,” he argued.

However has the buying energy of the French actually fallen? Euronews' Laurence Alexandrowicz put that query to economist Philippe Dessertine.

"From a statistical standpoint, we're certain buying energy has risen during the last 5 years. Nonetheless, over the previous couple of weeks or a number of months, we’ve skilled a unprecedented scenario, completely totally different from the development over the previous couple of years. That’s to say a really sturdy resurgence in inflation, that’s fully perceptible for households,” Dessertine stated.

The current sanctions in opposition to Russia, Europe’s main oil and fuel provider, have solely exacerbated the price of gasoline and different commodities that had already spiked due to the pandemic.

Séverine Michaud, the Director of French haulage agency Transport Michaud, informed Euronews the rise in gasoline costs is having a significant pressure on the corporate.

"We're extraordinarily anxious for the way forward for the occupation. Some hauliers won't survive. Immediately we pay greater than €2 per litre for diesel. A truck consumes 31 litres per 100 kilometres - do the calculations.

The French authorities just lately lower the price of gasoline by 18 cents a litre. It has additionally given six million households a €100 vitality voucher to deal with spiraling vitality prices. Whether or not that may have any bearing on the election result's unclear.

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