French Prime Minister asks industrialists to get involved to lower prices

Paris, Sep 18 (EFE).- The Prime Minister of France, Elisabeth Borne, today asked large industrialists and distribution chains to accelerate their negotiations so that a price drop is achieved “as soon as possible” in the face of the increase in poverty in a context of high inflation.

“We have asked large industrialists and distributors to accelerate negotiations so that they lower prices to the public as quickly as possible,” said Borne, during the presentation of a government plan to combat poverty in France.

The rise in inflation, although lower than in most euro zone countries, has caused many more people to find it difficult to make it through the month in a country where almost 15% of the population is considered to live below the poverty line (1,102 euros per month).

The prime minister specified that the Minister of Economy, Bruno Le Maire, will soon present a bill to shorten the deadline by which industrialists and distributors have to agree on lowering sales prices to the public.

Likewise, Borne announced that 80 million euros in additional European credits will be unlocked for the fight against poverty over the next four years.

The head of the French Government also cited the rampant precariousness of university students in France and explained that the 1 euro menu already in place will also continue in 2024. EFE

atc/fpa