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Future government: Michel Barnier clashes with the Macronist camp over taxes
Future government: Michel Barnier clashes with the Macronist camp over taxes
(France 2)
Michel Barnier has cancelled his meetings scheduled for Wednesday 18 September with the leaders of the Republicans and Gabriel Attal. Since the day before, the presidential camp has been saying that it does not want to participate if taxes are increased. However, Michel Barnier seems to have resigned himself to this.
Possible tax increases to tax wealthy households and highly profitable companies more, in contrast to Emmanuel Macron’s plan, are causing tensions between Michel Barnier and the outgoing majority. The meeting scheduled for Wednesday, September 18 at 10:30 a.m. between Gabriel Attal and Michel Barnier to discuss this inflammatory subject was canceled at the last minute by the latter. “The budgetary situation of the country that I am discovering is very serious. I have requested all the elements to assess its exact reality”he said in a statement.
The budget headache further complicates the task of the Prime Minister who is struggling to form his government. He was due to meet the Republican leaders at 6pm, but the meeting has also been postponed. According to a party official, “Emmanuel Macron would have refused Michel Barnier’s copy because he would have put too many LR in key positions”Appointed thirteen days ago, Michel Barnier is the Prime Minister who has taken the longest to form his government under the Fifth Republic.