The Minister of the Economy Antoine Armand defended businesses this Wednesday, November 20, 2024 in an interview with the newspaper Le Parisien, the day after the adoption by the Senate of a measure to reduce reductions in employer contributions, which should make it possible to free up three billion euros to finance Social Security.
Beware of excess tax! Businesses should not be the adjustment variable
warned Antoine Armand. Words which sparked a concert of praise from the deputies Together for the Republic (EPR), and particularly from their president Gabriel Attal, who judged it fair and responsible
especially since the minister explicitly shows himself to be very attached to the ideas of his political family.
Antoine Armand defends “contribution reductions”
The elimination of reductions in charges, even reduced to three billion euros by the Senate on Tuesday evening – compared to four billion in the initial text of the draft Social Security budget (PLFSS) – displeases businesses and the Macronist camp, because they appear to go against the supply policy sustained almost without fail since 2017.
My political family carries a message: it is not by hitting businesses and increasing the cost of labor that we create jobs and growth.
also declared Antoine Armand.
The EPR group is right to insist: we must go as far as possible to preserve contribution reductions
he continues, adding: watch out for the excess tax!
while the idea of an increase in the mobility payment, an employer contribution to the financing of public transport, is looming.
Gabriel Attal welcomes his position
I am Michel Barnier's minister and above all I belong to the Ensemble pour la République family. Let's stop being afraid of words: we are in a coalition. This means that political forces that do not agree on everything work together
adds the Minister of the Economy.
On the social network X, former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal welcomed the interview fair and responsible
by Antoine Armand. With the deputies Together, we continue to defend the competitiveness of our economy in the service of employment. Alternative paths to increasing charges exist. Thanks to the Prime Minister and the government for listening, the work continues with them
he assured.
Gabriel Attal reposted at the same time another message on X from the group of EPR deputies, who welcomed the interview just after its publication, arguing that we cannot take the risk of increasing labor costs
.
The minister proposes other savings avenues
In the interview, Antoine Armand for his part considers that irresponsible
All pseudo-blackmail of resignation
in case his requests are not heard, and recalls that Michel Barnier has always opened the door to adjustments in return for savings proposals
.
Among these possible savings, he mentions the tightening of unemployment insurance conditions, proposed in the spring by EPR. He recalls that he is in favor of a debate on working time
has affect the state's lifestyle
or medical transport by taxi, which costs health insurance 3 billion per year. Or €50,000 per year per taxi
.
He also seems to hope that the motion of censure which would result from a 49.3 on the budget would not be adopted, while Marine Le Pen is currently threatening to join it.
How could the French understand that oppositions who share almost nothing would nevertheless vote together on a motion of censure, effectively putting France without a budget and without a government on Christmas Eve?
he asks himself.
Finally questioned about the leader of the LR deputies Laurent Wauquiez, who regularly irritates the EPR group, the Minister of the Economy judges that the political situation is too new to have any qualms. If sometimes some have methods, postures or positions that provoke a reaction, let's not fall into the trap
.
