“We will have to work more” to “preserve our social model”, says the Minister of the Economy Antoine Armand – 04/11/2024 at 11:48

The minister also spoke of “an alliance between the New Popular Front and the National Rally” to increase taxes on businesses.

The French do not work enough to finance their social model, said Monday, November 4, the Minister of the Economy, Antoine Armand, who fears an economic “dropout” in the country.

“The quantity of hours worked in the country is no longer enough today to finance our social model and if we want to maintain it, we will have to work more”, “starting by ensuring that everyone respects the set working hours” , declared the minister on

Europe 1/CNews

.

Recalling that the unemployment insurance reform is being examined by the social partners, the minister noted that they would make “a proposal in the very next few weeks”. “If they do not agree, the State will take control,” he added. He described as “courage” the position of the Minister of the Civil Service, Guillaume Kasbarian, who wants to align compensation for public sick leave with that of the private sector.

“There is no question of letting imbalances from another age prosper in a world where

we all need to work more

“, judged Antoine Armand. The minister said he was “determined that we move forward together”, with union leaders, to “work on the question of working hours, aid to businesses”.

Avoid “tax bludgeoning”

“I will never accept an irresponsible budget, which leads to fiscal abuse”

also assured Antoine Armand, questioned about the increase by the National Assembly in corporate taxes. He hoped that the debate in the Senate which would follow would take place “in conditions closer to what businesses experience”.

He also mentioned

“an alliance between the New Popular Front and the National Rally”

appeared according to him during the debates. “It’s quite new because the RN called itself rather liberal, but we see that on the subjects of corporate taxes, it joins the extreme left,” he said.

Invited to comment on “the words and actions” of Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau, Antoine Armand underlined “that with other members of the government (coalition, Editor's note), we have a sensitivity that is different”.

“It’s new and we’re learning,” he added, but

“what we can share, whatever our political sensibility, is the need for authority”

.