Michel Barnier says he is “open” to other solutions than postponing the revaluation of retirement pensions

Michel Barnier was questioned at length this Thursday evening about the narrow budget that he is preparing to present, and thanks to which he hopes to reduce the debt by 60 billion euros. Denying everything « choc fiscal »as some assert, and any policy “austerity” and of « rigueur »the Prime Minister revealed some details on the tax increases planned in the budget and answered questions on the policy he intends to implement at Matignon.

“We are going to ask for an effort from the largest companies which make more than 1 billion [d’euros de chiffre d’affaires] and a temporary exceptional effort” he recalled, specifying that some “300 companies” would be affected. THE « temps » of this additional contribution “will be fixed in law”et “it will be a year and maybe two years”he clarified. “But there will be no new taxes on almost all of the 4 million companies”he said.

The increase in taxes on the wealthiest households will allow “to recover 2 billion euros”he estimated, confirming that the households concerned will be, for example, “couples with a tax income of more than 500,000 euros”.

Confirming the six-month postponement of the indexation of retirement pensions to inflation − from 1^is July 2025 instead of July 1^is January, the Prime Minister admitted that he was asking for « effort » to retirees. “I ask for an effort from everyone (…). And I think this one is fair and proportionate, although I know it is difficult”he defended. The Prime Minister, however, recalled that Parliament, “free to suggest changes”will decide “perhaps differently”during budgetary debates.

Asked about the 40 billion savings planned in the budget which will be presented next week, Michel Barnier outlined some ideas: public services “merged”the non-replacement of certain civil servants “ when they are not in direct contact with citizens”, the grouping “administrations or state agencies that make duplicates”. The head of government mentioned the retargeting of aid granted to businesses for apprenticeship but also health transport for which France “spends billions”according to him.

After the controversial remarks of the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, particularly on the rule of law, the Prime Minister assured: “I’m the one who sets the line” on immigration. “There will be rigorous measures to [la] master “he insisted. The Prime Minister seemed to rule out the idea of ​​a new law on immigration, as called for by Marine Le Pen.

On this delicate subject which fractures political personnel, Michel Barnier says “in favor of resuming work at the time it was interrupted, [après] a very in-depth debate in Parliament which was suspended due to the dissolution”and confides having been “personally agree” with the initial version of the text opening a “assisted dying” sous “strict conditions”.