squeaky, Barnier promises Attal to be “attentive to his proposals to deal with the deficit he has found”

Electricity in the air. After delivering his general policy speech to the deputies this Tuesday, for an hour and a half, Michel Barnier came down from the podium of the National Assembly. Then sat down again on the government benches to take the pulse of the different political forces. The leaders of the parliamentary groups took turns at the microphone, as tradition dictates. Each of them was able to reveal the line they intended to follow in light of the road map drawn up just before by the tenant of Matignon.

While the Prime Minister emphasized in his statement the efforts that will need to be made to reduce the level «colossal» of the “financial debt” and the deficit – which is expected to exceed 6% of GDP in 2024 – his predecessor saw fit to alert the national representation to the planned tax remedies. “To reduce deficits, the right method is less spending and certainly not more taxes,” replied Gabriel Attal. The Ensemble pour la République group, which he chairs, does not “will support nothing that can be achieved at the cost of growth or purchasing power.” The remark, which seems like a warning, did not escape Michel Barnier.

Also readMichel Barnier presents his roadmap, between caution and compromise

In his response to the parliamentary leaders, the Prime Minister fired several arrows. And targeted the deputy for Hauts-de-Seine. “Mr. Attal, I will be very attentive to your proposals for additional savings to deal with the deficit that I found when I arrived”he quipped, smirking. With the camera fixed on him, Gabriel Attal has difficulty hiding his annoyance. But now the deputies of the New Popular Front (NFP) are laughing out loud. Comfortable in the exercise, the Savoyard immediately turns to his left: “You both need to get used to me saying what I think. And I will tell you too.”

“Much more degraded situation”

This is not the first time that the two men have made their differences so clear. After a baroque transfer of power, marked by reciprocal barbs, the Macronist had made it known that he was demanding from his successor “guarantees” to prevent hypothetical setbacks on abortion, marriage for all, or LGBT rights.

Since his arrival at Rue de Varenne, Michel Barnier has brushed aside any such change. And rather prepared minds for a complicated 2025 budget, given the deterioration of public accounts. Last weekend, he said in an interview with the regional press that the situation is “much more degraded than what has been said”. A charge against the balance sheet of Gabriel Attal, in charge of state finances between 2022 and 2023 and at Matignon the first eight months of 2024.

In his general policy speech, Michel Barnier also set the objective of reducing the public deficit to 5% in 2027 and 3% in 2029. With the following proportion in terms of efforts: two-thirds reduction in spending, a third of a tax increase. In addition to the savings measures, he has in fact called for higher taxation of “large and very large companies that make significant profits” as well as “The most fortunate French people” via a “exceptional contribution”. Tax increases on which the former majority will have to clarify its position when presenting the next finance bill.