To repay the French debt, the government excludes activating the lever of taxation. “We haven’t changed our minds on taxes, not only do we not want to increase them, but we want to lower them”, assured the Minister of Public Accounts, Gabriel Attal, Friday, June 10 on franceinfo. He prefers to focus on economic activity. “The more people you have working, the more revenue you have for public finances”he hammered, from where “the reduction of production taxes for companies” which will be held “in 2023, this is what was announced”.
Tax hike or spending cut? ➡️ “We don’t want to raise taxes, but we want to keep lowering them”, declares Gabriel Attal. “There is a 3rd possibility: to have an economic activity”, says the minister. year.” pic.twitter.com/3r5t3kfstE
— franceinfo (@franceinfo) June 10, 2022
Asked about the fact that all of the government’s proposals will only be specified after the legislative elections, Gabriel Attal swept aside the criticisms on a “surprise pocket” effect. The Minister of Public Accounts took the opportunity to oppose the government’s fiscal policy and that promised by the New Popular, Ecological and Social Union (Nupes), gathered behind Jean-Luc Mélenchon. “The reality is that the hidden program of the Nupes is a massive increase in taxes for all French peoplehe said. They have a program of 320 billion euros per year, which means that it is almost a billion euros more per day. According to him, “to finance such a program, it would be necessary to triple the VAT”. On franceinfo on June 3, Jean-Luc Mélenchon defended the costing of the Nupes proposals. “The program I propose with my friends decides on the use of 250 billion more”while promising “a return of 267 billion in contributions, taxes and duties that go into the fund”.
“Our goal is to ensure that they spend less and earn more,” says Gabriel Attal, who refutes the idea that the government refuses to give figures before the legislative elections. “The hidden program is on the side of the Nupes.” pic.twitter.com/TxXpkXOqXy
— franceinfo (@franceinfo) June 10, 2022
As for the pension reform promised by Nupes, it “cost”according to the Minister of Public Accounts “the equivalent of half the GDP [produit intérieur brut, la richesse produite par un pays sur un an] of Portugal, seven times the budget of our universities, all that to allow executives to leave as early as caregivers”.