“No question” of increasing household taxes: Elisabeth Borne tried to reassure this Wednesday, August 23 during the return of the government, “mobilized” on the priorities of the French, while Emmanuel Macron prepares his next “initiative” for unblock a still complex political situation.
“There is no question, it is not at all the philosophy of the government, to increase household taxes. On the contrary, we want to continue to lower taxes while obviously being attentive to the purchasing power of the middle classes “, declared the Prime Minister duringan interview on France Bleu. Similarly, there are no plans to raise taxes on alcohol.
But while the property tax, set by the cities, looks set to rise sharply, she acknowledged that her commitment only concerned the state budget. And she admitted that the increase in medical deductibles was “part of the reflections” to balance budgets for 2024 under severe financial constraint. The government “will have to decide very soon”, announced the Prime Minister.
If she assured that purchasing power remained a priority for the executive, she also explained that a new “fuel check” was not on the table, ensuring that we should not expect ” a spike in prices “at the pump” in the coming weeks.
Macron plans referendums
During the Council of Ministers back to school this morning, the Head of State “recalled the priorities on which the government must be mobilized”, said Elisabeth Borne. Emmanuel Macron told his troops “that the little music should not be allowed to rise on tax increases”, stressing that he had lowered them for six years, reported a government source. However, he admitted that it would be necessary to “make choices” for the next budget, according to the same source. The executive, which must present the finance bill for 2024 at the end of September, faces a delicate equation with growth expected around 1% in 2023, tax revenues less dynamic than in 2022 and a public debt of more of 3,000 billion euros.
It is in the columns of Point that Emmanuel Macron must, according to the Elysée, “lay the foundations for the return to school” with “very strong markers of authority and unity”, less than two months after the urban riots. During the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, the Head of State indicated that he would bring together next week “the forces represented in the Senate and the Assembly” as part of his “major political initiative” to unblock a complex parliamentary situation, we learned from government sources. This initiative could lead “to bills but also to referendums”, added the Head of State according to these sources, without providing further details.
In the interview at the “Point”, expected Wednesday evening, he will detail his “unprecedented” political initiative which will be implemented “quickly”, we add in his entourage. Emmanuel Macron had announced that he would take this initiative with still vague outlines just before his summer break at Fort de Brégançon, the residence of presidents on the Mediterranean from where he notably followed the situation in Niger after the military coup.
The stated objective of these future meetings with the political forces is to research, on a case-by-case basis, on key but often divisive themes such as immigration, order, work, public services or even ecology, absolute majority which the President has lacked in the National Assembly since his re-election in 2022.
According to a Macronie executive, “everything must be done to avoid” the “blockage” that a possible motion of censure would represent voted by the right with the other oppositions and therefore likely to bring down the government. The interview should also allow the president to discuss his plans for the school before the start of the school year, at the heart of a probable trip next week. According to his entourage, the tenant of the Elysée intends to demonstrate his capacity for “action” in France as on the diplomatic front – he will present his priorities on Monday at the annual conference of ambassadors, before participating in the G20 summit in India on Monday. 9 and 10 September then to welcome King Charles III.
“2027 is a long way off”
Other highlights for the coming weeks: the presentation of ecological planning, to which Emmanuel Macron will devote several days and travel during September, and the Rugby World Cup that France is hosting from September 8 in less than a year. of the Paris Olympics.
At the end of July, the head of state had advocated “order” in response to the urban violence caused by the death of young Nahel, killed by a police officer during a check. And in mid-August, he warned French youth against “chaos” and “disunity”.
In the immediate future, he will be confronted with the risk of seeing his own authority over his troops decline as the pretenders to his succession emancipate themselves. The Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, opened the ball early by saying this summer “to worry about what will happen in 2027”. And will try to punctuate the rhythm of the start of the school year with his political meeting on Sunday in his stronghold of Tourcoing.
If Emmanuel Macron made “no allusion” to the meeting organized by his restless minister, according to another member of the government, Elisabeth Borne sent him a thinly veiled warning: “2027 is a long way off”, she launched, stressing that her “concern” was “really the cohesion of the government”.