Petrol towards €2.50? Government studies countermeasures as anger grows
I stop at the usual café in front of the station and overhear two people commenting on the petrol station's price board: "€2.06 a litre for diesel, did you see that? It's mad stuff." It's no longer the usual coffee chat; it's become a daily war bulletin. And the designated culprit, as always, is the government. With excise duties staying put and promises flying away like our money into the tank, you get the feeling that the Italian machine is spluttering along, while filling up burns a hole in your wallet.
The excise dance and spiralling prices
In government buildings, they say they're studying new moves. But we Italians have seen this all too many times: they announce things, and prices just keep racing ahead in the meantime. And we're not just talking about petrol. Look at diesel: on the motorway, self-service has smashed through the two-euro mark, and that's self-service, mind you, not full-serve! It's a heavy hit that affects everyone, from truck drivers to commuters. The official excuse is always the same: the cost of raw materials and international tensions. But talk of cutting excise duties remains stuck in limbo, lost in a haze of meetings and empty promises. Meanwhile, here's what's really happening at the pumps:
- In urban areas: petrol is now consistently above €2.10 a litre. Diesel, incredibly, has overtaken petrol in some places.
- On motorways: it's a jungle out there. Self-service diesel has hit peaks of €2.2, and as for full-serve, well, the less said the better.
- On national roads and in suburbs: only a few independent stations are holding the line, but you need the patience to find them and the luck to catch a dealer who hasn't hiked prices yet.
The fear of the Yellow Vests (and more)
And as the cost of fuel becomes a daily burden, many are looking to France with a certain apprehension. The spectre of the Yellow Vests movement has never felt so real. It started there, over a diesel price hike, and brought a country to a standstill. The point is, when a full tank costs you as much as a dinner out, anger rises. And you don't need to own a fancy Villa with terrace, barbecue and garden to feel under siege: even those living in the suburbs who have to commute into the city every day for work are at breaking point. Never mind those who might have booked a Chalet on Carrer Ondategui just steps from the beach for their holidays, hoping to save on travel, only to be hit by these crazy prices just getting around. The dream of a holiday getaway shatters at the first fill-up.
We're not in Kazakhstan, where in 2022 the 2022 Kazakhstan protests were sparked by a fuel price hike before snowballing into something much bigger. But the lesson is clear: hitting people's pockets, especially when it comes to getting around, is like walking through a minefield. The government knows this and, between one statement and another, is trying to avoid the spark that could light the fuse. For now, the only certainty is the pump counter spinning ever faster, while we watch and curse under our breath.