France tackles fuel crisis as Macron meets Trump in New York and German far-right gains ground
France's prime minister held two emergency meetings on fuel shortages, while President Macron traveled to New York for talks with Donald Trump, and the far-right Alternative für Deutschland surged in regional elections.
The French government responded to escalating fuel prices and pump shortages by organizing two crisis meetings at Matignon, one focusing on oil and gas supplies and the other on immediate assistance for the public. Economy Minister Roland Lescure said the state faces no immediate supply risk but will seek solutions if the Middle-East conflict persists, and discussed extending aid for heavy users beyond one outlet deadline.
Meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron flew to New York to hold a bilateral meeting with Donald Trump as part of the UN General Assembly agenda. In Germany, the far-right Alternative für Deutschland topped the regional ballot in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern with roughly 38% of the vote, a sharp rise from 2021, while Berlin's Die Linke led the polls, leaving Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU acknowledging a disastrous outcome. The fuel shortage also sparked protests by fishermen blocking ports such as Cannes.
Why it matters
Fuel shortages, high prices and political shifts affect daily life and European stability.
How this story developed
- Sep 14 Fishermen block Fos-sur-Mer oil depot with tanker trucks over fuel costs
- Sep 17 The federal government is exploring a direct reduction of fuel prices by as much as 25 cents per litre. In a televised discussion, Chancellor Merz and Finance Minister Klingbeil consulted the ministers-presidents of Rheinland-Pfalz and Niedersachsen, but the talks did not produce a final plan. Options on the table include a price-cap model and direct cash payments to consumers, while a proposed profit-tax on fuel companies was dismissed. The debate continues as the government seeks a timely solution.
- Sep 19 Minister Catherine Chabaud met with the protesting fishermen.
- Sep 19 A consensus on the fuel‑tax rebate was reached, moving the plan from discussion to scheduled implementation.
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