French president urges ‘new responses’ to rising energy costs amid uncertainty

French President Emmanuel Macron has called on the government to develop “new responses” to rising energy prices amid a “highly uncertain geopolitical context,” according to government spokesperson Maud Bregeon on Wednesday.

“He asked ministers and the government to continue engaging with sectors affected by energy and fuel price increases, ministry by ministry, to design possible new support measures and targeted responses in the coming weeks,” Bregeon said after the Council of Ministers.

She also said the government was not ruling out fiscal measures on energy companies, including a possible tax on oil “superprofits.”

Bregeon rejected criticism of energy giant TotalEnergies after it reported a 51% rise in first-quarter profit, saying the government would not engage in “total bashing.”

“No one should profit from this crisis, and no superprofits should be made, especially in France. Based on that principle, nothing is ruled out,” she said.

Last week, the government announced a €0.20 (around $0.22) per liter fuel subsidy for around three million low-income, high-mileage workers.