STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP
Gabriel Attal and Michel Barnier here on September 5, 2024. The former’s support for the latter’s government is no longer certain, due to the threat of tax increases mentioned by Michel Barnier.
POLITICS – A warning. Prime Minister Michel Barnier must clarify his “political line, particularly on possible tax increases and on major government balances”so that Macronist deputies consider joining his government, Gabriel Attal said on Tuesday, September 17, in a message to members of the Ensemble pour la République (EPR) group.
“Despite the two meetings organized, and the Prime Minister’s visit during our parliamentary days, we still do not have clear visibility”wrote the group’s president, explaining that he had requested a new meeting with Michel Barnier “to decide on (their) participation in the government”.
“I inform you that we have requested from the Prime Minister, before the formation of the government, a meeting with a restricted delegation from our group in order to see things more clearly.”specifies the former Prime Minister, affirming however that “We will never be a blocking force, but always a force of solutions”.
Barnier’s entourage denounces “they say”
It is particularly since the new Prime Minister is said to have mentioned to several interlocutors an increase in levies, in the name of a particularly difficult budgetary situation, that the Macronists have rebelled. The public deficit which could widen to 5.6% of GDP this year, or even 6.2% in 2025.
A recent interlocutor of Michel Barnier claims to have heard the Prime Minister mention tax increases. on high incomes ». “The only thing the Prime Minister said was that he would not rule out moving towards greater tax justice.”downplayed Michel Barnier’s entourage on Tuesday, denouncing “ they say » and some “speculation”.
But these rumors make Macronists shudder, particularly opposed to any tax increase, which would go against the line defended for seven years by Emmanuel Macron. The Republicans, of which Michel Barnier is a member, are also hostile to it.
“Breaking the taboo on tax increases”
Furthermore, in an interview with Parisian, The Governor of the Bank of France, François Villeroy de Galhau, calls for “lift the taboo on tax increases, without affecting the middle classes or SMEs if possible” to reduce the debt, even if “The bulk of this effort must be made on expenditure”.
The Governor of the Bank of France also suggested “an exceptional and reasonable effort on certain large companies and large taxpayers” in order to reduce deficits, “ until we get back below 3%” public deficit. “France no longer has the means” tax cuts” unfunded » implemented after Emmanuel Macron’s arrival at the Élysée, he finally pointed out.
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