© Frédéric Pitchal
– The new Minister of the Economy, Éric Lombard.
Here we go again: after the fall of the Barnier government and the appointment of ministers from François Bayrou's team, the development of budget 2025 is back on track. And it is Éric Lombard who will have the perilous task of avoiding censorship by proposing a text capable of – if not satisfying – at least pushing all the parties making up the French political landscape to give him the benefit of the doubt.
To limit the risks, Éric Lombard announced that he wanted associate “all parties» to the dialogue in the coming days. The minister, in an interview given to La Tribune Sundaysays in fact that he hopes to find “compromises» : «By sharing information on the reality of the situation, I will do everything possible to ensure that a budget is adopted» he says. But on certain points, the dialogue will be lively, particularly around a possible adjustment of the law on pensions. The minister issues “a condition»: discussions «must not increase the old age insurance deficit“. But, he hopes, there is “grain to grind within this constraint».
Bayrou government: who is Éric Lombard, the new strong man of Bercy?
“Protect growth”
The Lombard version budget will partly take up the Barnier government's project. With, already, some promises: possible tax increasesshould be very limited»and the public deficit reduced to “a little above 5%» of GDP for “protect growth“. Still on the taxation chapter, the minister wants to reassure the less fortunate French: “We will have a budget which will include an indexation of the scale. French people who do not pay income tax today will not pay any tomorrow» he announces.
