National Rally (RN, far right), New Popular Front (left) and presidential camp have each revealed their program for the legislative elections. Here is a comparison of their main proposals, before the televised debate on Tuesday between representatives of each camp.
Purchasing power
No. 1 concern of the French according to several recent surveys, purchasing power crosses the project of the three main blocks. The RN thus promises to reduce VAT on energy products to 5.5%, compared to the current 20%. And secondly to “suspend” VAT on around a hundred essential products, “in the event of high inflation”.
The left is presenting a flagship economic measure: a SMIC (minimum wage) at 1,600 euros net compared to nearly 1,400 today. The indexation of salaries to inflation and the 10% increase in the index point of civil servants also appear in the program of the New Popular Front.
To finance this costly project for public finances, the left alliance intends to reestablish a solidarity tax on wealth (ISF) reinforced with a “climate component”, “generalize” the taxation of superprofits and create an additional contribution on high salaries .
If the left intends to “refuse the European budgetary stability pact”, which notably imposes a public deficit below 3% of GDP, the Macronist majority is committed to getting back on track by 2027 (compared to 5.5% in 2023), without tax increases.
It will allow companies to increase the amount of the purchasing power bonus (“Macron” bonus) by up to 10,000 euros per year without charge or tax. It foresees a 15% reduction in electricity bills from next winter as well as an identical reduction in the price of school supplies via “group purchases”.
Immigration
If the left intends to repeal the immigration law adopted this winter in Parliament, enshrine a “full land right” or even create “a climate displaced person status”, the RN promises a new “emergency” immigration law from 2024.
His proposals: removal of land law, tightening of family reunification criteria, offense of illegal stay with a fine, and transformation of State Medical Aid for foreigners in an irregular situation into “vital emergency aid”.
Marine Le Pen’s party also explained on Monday that it wanted to ban certain “sensitive jobs” for dual nationals, without calling into question “dual nationality” as it still proposed in 2022.
International
Although France’s foreign policy is traditionally considered a presidential prerogative, the left and far right have both unveiled several proposals.
The left-wing parties tried to overcome their deep differences by denouncing in their program the “terrorist massacres” of Hamas, while promising to fight against the “disturbing explosion” of “racist, anti-Semitic and Islamophobic acts”.
They advocate the immediate recognition of the State of Palestine, unlike Mr. Bardella who believes that such an initiative today would amount to “recognizing terrorism”.
The latter assured that he did not intend to “call into question France’s international commitments” if he becomes prime minister. Marine Le Pen still promised in 2022 to leave NATO’s integrated command.
The president of the RN also warned Monday that he would be “extremely vigilant” in the face of “attempts at interference by Russia”, while setting “red lines” on the sending of ground troops to Ukraine or “missiles long-range or military equipment” which could “directly strike Russian cities”.
Announcements which collide with those of Emmanuel Macron, agreeing to allow Ukraine to use Western weapons to “neutralize” Russian military bases.
Pensions and health
RN and New Popular Front both propose, in the event of victory on July 7, to eliminate the reform of unemployment insurance decided by the government, which tightens the eligibility conditions and reduces the duration of compensation.
Another much criticized reform is that of pensions, which the two opposition blocs want to reverse. The left proposes to repeal it and aims for a “common objective”: the right to retire at 60.
Jordan Bardella kept his position on the subject unclear, claiming to want to establish a legal starting age of 62 while establishing a “progressive” system favoring long careers, with the possibility of leaving at 60 for those having started working before the age of 20, with 40 years of contributions.
The central bloc has promised to index pensions to inflation and to create a public mutual fund at one euro per day for retirees, students, the self-employed and job seekers.
On health, the Ensemble coalition wants to continue the movement of delegation of medical acts to other professions (vaccination by pharmacists, adaptation of the prescription of glasses by optometrists, etc.).
The RN promises to exempt from tax the professional activity income of retired doctors who return to work with combined retirement employment; while the left wants to reimburse medically assisted procreation (MAP), menstrual protection; and introduce menstrual leave.
Education
Emmanuel Macron spoke out in favor of banning the telephone “before the age of 11” and social networks “before the age of 15”, while Jordan Bardella wished for “a big bang of authority” at school, particularly with the ban on mobile phones in establishments and the wearing of uniforms.
The left wants to ensure “completely free” schooling, from the canteen to school transport and supplies.