POLITICS – The refractory Gauls. We are in October of the Michel Barnier era at Matignon. The entire political sphere seems ready to increase taxes on the richest households, and the most profitable companies, to consolidate public finances. The whole political sphere? No. A chapel populated by die-hard Macronists still resists.
Gérald Darmanin and Gabriel Attal put pressure on Michel Barnier on the budget
Gérald Darmanin and Gabriel Attal are the spearheads of these elected officials “ pastoucheaufisx. » The former Minister of the Interior again criticized on Sunday the “ choc fiscal » prepared by the head of government, who risks “ kill growth » French. The third warning of its kind, since mid-September, to the attention of Michel Barnier.
Certainly less radical in his remarks, Gabriel Attal seems to be in the same position. Guest of 8 p.m. on TF1, Sunday evening, the former tenant of Matignon urged his successor to prefer saving measures so as not to “ overloading the tax boat. » Problem for the duo: their line, supported by a few Macronist flocks, is far from being a majority within their camp itself.
The presidential camp (and their supporters) say yes
In reality, behind these criticisms, opposition to tax increases tends to dry up. Including in the “ common base » which supports Michel Barnier. After the Republicans, the government’s Macronists quickly justified this break in view of the perilous budgetary situation. Two former Renaissance deputies are also in charge, Antoine Armand in Economy and Laurent Saint-Martin in Public Accounts.
Now, Edouard Philippe’s party (although it usually doesn’t move on the taxation of the wealthiest) also gives its green light. “ I have no problem with those who earn a lot in specific cases contributing exceptionally, this is valid for households as well as for businesses”for example assured Laurent Marcangeli, the president of the Horizons group to the National Assembly, Friday. A question “ of fiscal and political justice »according to him.
In the same spirit, Yaël Braun-Pivet for his part evokes a “ good track ». « Asking for a provisional, temporary effort from some who are the most fortunate does not seem aberrant to meindicated the President of the National Assembly, Sunday on BFMTV, as long as it does not have the effect of stopping growth. »
In fact, the anti-tax increase line supported by Gérald Darmanin and Gabriel Attal is in the minority today in the political sphere. Even more significant, it is also significant among the sympathizers of their camp. According to an Ifop poll conducted at the beginning of October, voters close to Renaissance are largely in favor of increased taxation on businesses (85%) and households (82%). Like the majority of French people, all political tendencies combined.
Temple Guardians
So, how can we explain the somewhat lonely offensive of the two strong men of the presidential party? Basically, Gérald Darmanin and Gabriel Attal want to be guardians of the temple of the strategy of “ the offer » at work since Emmanuel Macron came to power. A method which is based on generalized tax cuts and counts on a “ runoff » from the most affluent to the most precarious.
« The economic strategy of the government (Barnier) seems contrary to what we have successfully carried out for seven years”further deplored the former Minister of the Interior (and Public Accounts), Sunday in The Echoesadding : “At home, in Tourcoing, the unemployment rate fell from 18% to 11%, which gave work and dignity to thousands of workers. This is not a coincidence. »
Despite the violent slippage of the deficit and a spiraling debt, the presidential camp is indeed clinging to some positive data, such as the drop in unemployment or the growth rate, to boast of its results. A way, too, of responding to Michel Barnier, who points out the Macronist budgetary legacy at every opportunity, evoking public finances on the edge of the abyss.
In this context, it is difficult for Gérald Darmanin and Gabriel Attal (both of whom worked at Bercy and the Ministry of Public Accounts) to support without blinking a government project which breaks with their own dogma. This would amount to recognizing errors, if not a failure, and giving the point to the new Prime Minister, who has given them very little consideration since his appointment. The two ambitious former ministers prefer for the moment to endorse the record of the head of state. An attitude that could be useful to them in the future.
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Towards an increase in electricity taxes? The government’s explosive trail
France’s ecological debt: what Michel Barnier is talking about when he says he wants to reduce it
