PURCHASING POWER LAW. The various measures in favor of purchasing power could be officially announced after the legislative elections. Pensions, fuel discount… We take stock.
[Mis à jour le 27 mai 2022 à 10h24] The purchasing power bill comprising ten measures in favor of the purchasing power of the French should be announced in the coming weeks! More precisely, after the legislative elections on 12th and 19th June next. In this sense, the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire received the representatives of the large distribution or the MEDEF this Monday, May 23 to ask them for an effort on wages to try to compensate for the harmful effects of inflation (+4 .8% in May over one year). This amending finance bill (PLFR) should be carried by the brand new Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne. Food check, extension of the tariff shield and the fuel discount, indexation of pensions to inflation… There is no shortage of proposals, but the promulgation of this law should still be pending.
Why ? Quite simply because the new National Assembly has not yet been formed. For the moment, this project remains to be taken with tweezers. It is totally suspended on the results of the legislative elections next June. Indeed, the slew of measures promised by Emmanuel Macron and his government remains subject to the dynamics that will emerge from the ballot. The Republic En Marche and its rally “Together!” will she get the majority? This is the main question. If this is not the case, the project could be widely called into question, or even completely abandoned. In the event of cohabitation, it could be difficult for the Head of State to impose this project on his Prime Minister and have it voted on by a divided assembly. Answer on June 19 during the second round of the legislative elections.
The rise in consumer prices is expected to continue in the coming months. INSEE predicts an increase between 5% and 5.4% next May, enough to push the government to act, by proposing a salvo of measures to try to support modest households and low wages. In this sense, several proposals already mentioned by the executive for many weeks should indeed come into force. Here they are :
- Food voucher: its amount could reach 60 euros and should benefit young people aged 18 to 25, as well as low-income families with children. The measure could concern 8 million people in France with the aim of allowing low wages to consume French, organic, and preferably in short circuits.
- Macron bonus: the Head of State intends to triple the amount of the exceptional purchasing power bonus to reach up to 6,000 euros in certain cases. It concerns employees whose salary does not exceed 3x the minimum wage.
- RSA: the active solidarity income should be conditional on a minimum of activity on the part of the beneficiaries. The most likely track remains 20 hours of training per month. A way for the executive to promote the return to employment.
- TV fee: it was a campaign promise the audiovisual fee will be abolished in 2022. Its amount was 138 euros in mainland France and 88 euros in Overseas for each household with a television.
- Indexation of pensions to inflation: In addition to the introduction of a minimum pension of 1,100 euros, Emmanuel Macron wishes to index retirement pensions to the level of inflation to take into account the sharp rise in prices which should be durable.
- Fuel bonus: the government could extend the discount of 18 cents on a liter of fuel, and even set up new, more targeted aid for those who have no choice but to use their vehicle to get to their workplace.
As announced by the spokesperson for the current government Gabriel Attalthe various measures forming part of the purchasing power law should be announced “after the legislative elections“. A way of respecting the timetable set by Emmanuel Macron and his various media outlets, regularly announcing the implementation of these measures by the summer. The legislative elections will be held on June 12 and 19. An announcement of the purchasing power bill is therefore not to be expected before, at least, next June 20.