the project is “unacceptable” according to Darmanin, who opposes any tax increase

The budget continues to fracture the fragile coalition between The Republicans (LR) and the macronie. Former Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin thus judged on Thursday “unacceptable” the draft budget outlined by the new Prime Minister Michel Barnier, criticizing the tax increases which, according to him, are not accompanied by proposals for structural reforms.

“We must explain what we are going to do with the country”explained the man who was also Minister of Public Accounts between 2017 and 2020. “I will not vote for a tax increase”he threatened on franceinfo, even if the tax increases only concern the very rich and large companies. The now MP from the North criticized “reduction of charges” for businesses which would be reviewed by the Barnier government. “It’s very important for us because it becomes contrary to what we have done for a very long time”he developed, judging that it amounted to “an increase in labor costs”. “That means that unemployment will increase again, I am against that”he decided.

«We return to the socialist era of François Hollande»

The announced increase in corporate tax, which was reduced from 33% to 25% under Emmanuel Macron? “We are returning to the socialist era of François Hollande” and, he added, “it can’t be temporary” in the “budgetary trajectory mentioned by the Prime Minister” to reduce the public deficit to 5% of GDP in 2027, then 3% in 2029. As for the contribution “exceptional” for the wealthiest households, Gérald Darmanin saw it as a way to “submit a form of ISF”. “We can always discuss it, but even there I don’t really agree since the money of the richest is in the economy, it should not go into public coffers”he argued.

“We don’t just need revenue and expenditure, we also need to explain what we are going to do with the country”he shouted, “what was missing in the Prime Minister’s general policy speech was the reforms he was going to make”. He particularly criticized the abandonment of the unemployment insurance reform passed under the previous government of Gabriel Attal. “I will most likely vote against a corporate tax increase”added former Minister of Industry Roland Lescure on Sud Radio. “We need competitiveness, behind it are millions of jobs”he argued.

The Budget Minister specified this Thursday that the tax increases will concern households earning “more than 500,000 euros” per year, or 0.3% of the wealthiest households.