In the Senate, the centrists intend to weigh on the state budget. “ We want to launch the debate on VAT and working time, in order to reduce other tax increases planned elsewhere” in the budget, says Finistère senator Michel Canévet in a press release from the centrist Union. This group led by the boss of the UDI Hervé Marseille, which has 60 elected officials, forms the second part of the “senatorial majority” alongside the group Les Républicains (130 members) and in support of the government of Michel Barnier.
In detail, the centrist group, the third group in the Senate, intends to propose during the budgetary debates a two-point increase on the standard VAT rate, increasing it from 20 to 22%, for an estimated gain of 13 billion euros. , according to Michel Canévet. While preserving essential goods, affected by reduced VAT rates. Thus the National Assembly adopted a provision proposed by the government to exempt from VAT, in Martinique and Guadeloupe, a list of products of “first necessity”translation of an agreement concluded on October 16 in Fort-de-France to fight against the high cost of living. In return, other products which are currently exempt from VAT in these departments – such as electronic or nautical equipment – should in the future be subject to this tax.
Extend legal working hours
On working time, the centrist group intends to propose extending legal working hours by increasing it to 1,625 hours per year – compared to 1,607 currently including the “day of solidarity” – for revenues of six billion euros, three of which would be earmarked for the elderly sector. This proposal goes even further than the idea of creating a second “day of solidarity”, also subject to debate in the High Assembly.
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“VAT is the tax that has the least recessive effect on the economy”assumes to the AFP the centrist senator from Finistère. As for the increase in working hours, it is justified according to him because “the effort must be collective”.
For his part, Hervé Marseille assures in his group's press release that “These major guidelines will be points of vigilance which will guide us throughout the debates to build a balanced, acceptable and non-recessive budget”. Other sensitive proposals from the centrists: the non-replacement of one in four civil servants in support functions; or even the reduction in the budget for the “Sport Pass” and the “Culture Pass”. Savings allowing them to eliminate the fund in return “precaution” targeting local authorities, supposed to bring in three billion.
The Assembly having adopted neither the Social Security budget nor that of the State, the Senate is in the front line on these texts, examined from Monday for the Social Security budget, then from November 25 for that of the State.
(With AFP)
