This is a measure that has been talked about since its introduction almost twenty years ago. In 2006, Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin approved the government’s decision to privatize French highways.. At that time, it was about ensuring the long-term maintenance and proper functioning of many highways, which were too expensive for the state. The unofficial reason was permission keep the government deficit below 3%as the Government promised then.

At that time, France had three concessionary highway networks, which therefore belonged to the state. From the total number out of eighteen potential takeover candidates, two French and Spanish tenders were won. from, Vinci manages (among others) the former Autoroutes du Sud de la France (ASF). Eifage the Paris-Rhin-Rhône (APRR) motorway network. And at last the Spaniard Albertis Company of Motorways of the North and East of France (SANEF).

Fares continue to rise

The conditions agreed at that time with the state were based on profitability of the system until 2032. It was a matter of joint agreement with the state to raise the duty rates every year ensure a balance between expenses and income at this time. It is automatically recalculated based on inflation figures. The base period for setting the new rate for this year is the period from October 2021 to October 2022. According to figures released by the state, it was 6.33%. Thus, the toll rates for 2023 increased by an average of 4.75%.on 1^Er February, like every year. For reference, rate of tariff increase in 2022 was an average of 2%.. The price increase will not affect all highway networks. Alone Vinci motorways, Paris-Rhine-Rhone motorways, Rhône-Alpes motorways (AREA), and the network SANEF SAPN is.

The right to go on vacation

But in a the background of the explosion of fuel prices, this next increase further weakens the purchasing power of the French. It is precisely to respond to this galloping inflation that the deputy of NUES François Ruffin refers to the “right to vacation” this summer. It will consist of make travel free in the summer and limit the price of a train ticket to ten euros.

He notes that every third Frenchman does not go on vacation, and that in 2020 39% of French people who did not go on vacation cited financial reasons. “The right to vacation is the right to work and rest,” he said. Although many European countries are introducing free regional trains or capping prices on national lines, this proposal may make sense. Especially since the recent motorway profitability scandal may trigger a commercial gesture on the part of the concessionaires…