“What credibility should be given to the site “maretraitenupes.fr” indicated by our Prime Minister yesterday evening during the political debate on France 2 ? Indeed, the figures that come out of the calculator are quite frightening… »asks Jacques, reader of Sables-d’Olonne (Vendée).
On Thursday, June 27, 2024, it was not only the debate between the representatives of the three main political forces that caused a stir on social networks. A simulator, called “maretraitenupes.fr”, also caused outrage, particularly among the leaders of the New Popular Front (NFP). A tool supposed to show the reduction in retirement pensions in the event that the left becomes the majority in the National Assembly on July 7. Created by Renaissance, this tool is considered misleading by the NFP. During the debate and on X (ex-Twitter), Gabriel Attal did not hesitate to talk about it and relay it.
On the site, you are asked to fill in your “net retirement pension” and find out what the amount would be “with a majority of Nupes/NFP deputies”. When you arrive, the box to indicate your net monthly pension is already pre-filled with the amount of €1,200. And this sentence right after: “With a majority of Nupes/NFP deputies you will receive: €1,134. That is – €792 of lost retirement each year.” If you wish, you can change the basic amount entered.
This calculation is based on an amendment tabled on February 2, 2023 by socialist deputies, rejected on February 15. This is evidenced by the link listed on the simulator. “This amendment aims to establish a progressive CSG with 7 different rates (from 0% up to €4,900 of income up to 13.2% above €79,000 of income) and to dissolve the differentiated reduced rates for income from unemployment benefits, retirement pensions in these brackets)”, can we read. To date, the general social contribution (CSG) actually only has four rates, which vary depending on the amount of your tax income and the number of tax household shares. : 0% (exemption), 3.80% (reduced rate), 6.60% (median rate) and 8.30% (normal rate).
Consistent figures?
Using the amount indicated on arrival on the site, the rate for a pension of €1,200 per month would be 5.5%. And therefore €66 per month, which means that we find this figure of €792 per year.
The problem is that the left assures that this simulator does not take into account all the parameters in its calculation. According to them, it only works for the example of a single person and does not allow to enter their number of tax shares. It is indeed not possible to modify all these parameters on the site.
This tool actually works by thresholds and not by brackets (as for income tax), which distorts the calculation. It also does not take into account the income tax reform, desired by the NFP, with a rate which would be progressive. At this time, the new desired scales for the generalized social contribution and income tax are not yet all known, which does not exactly allow us to rely on the tool. This is also partly why for the New Popular Front, these results are false.
We must therefore remain cautious, Jacques, about the figures announced by the simulator, because it is difficult to really know what it takes into account in its calculation.
Read also: Legislative: LFI takes legal action against Renaissance for “dissemination of false information”
Justice is seized
Manuel Bompard, coordinator of La France Insoumise, considered this simulator to be “lying”. “It relies on methods of calculation which do not appear in the program of the New Popular Front and gives completely inconsistent results which could mislead voters. A few days before the election, this disinformation campaign is simply unacceptable”he protests on X.
This site could therefore go against the law of December 22, 2018 relating to the fight against the manipulation of information. It is indeed forbidden to “disseminate in a deliberate, artificial or automated and massive manner through an online public communication service”, “during the three months preceding the first day of the month of general elections and until the date of the round of voting in which they are acquired”, “inaccurate or misleading allegations or imputations of a fact likely to affect the sincerity of the upcoming vote”.
This is why, in an attempt to defend itself, France Insoumise announced on Friday that it was launching a “emergency procedure for the dissemination of false information”. Only the decision of a judge can then sanction or even cause the closure of the site.
