A little less than two hours of discussions, very often tense. The first debate of these early legislative elections between Gabriel Attal, Jordan Bardella and Manuel Bompard, respectively representing the presidential camp, the National Rally and the New Popular Front, was held this Tuesday evening. From purchasing power to pensions, including immigration or medical deserts, the three camps defended their proposals five days before the first round. A look back at the main highlights of this evening.
On pensions, Attal assures not to promise “the moon”
One of the first salient subjects of this debate: the question of pensions and the reform implemented by the government of Elisabeth Borne in 2023. Jordan Bardella once again assured: in the event of victory of the RN, he and its allies will allow “from the fall” those who started working at 20 to retire at 60. For his part, Manuel Bompard (LFI) recalled the promise of the New Popular Front to “repeal Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform and, before 2027, table a bill to reduce the retirement age to 60” .
Proposals deemed unrealistic by Gabriel Attal. “I say it here: those who promise you the moon, who tell you that they will postpone retirement until 60, this is a 40 billion euro project which is not financed. to finance it”, attacked the outgoing Prime Minister.
Heated battle over purchasing power
Another major topic of discussion between the three camps: purchasing power. “You are a social scam”, criticized Jordan Bardella in particular targeting Manuel Bompard, while the latter explained that the National Rally had “abandoned all” of “its promises”.
On the desire of the National Rally to lower VAT to 5.5% on energy, Jordan Bardella indicated that this measure would cost 12 billion euros… compared to 17 billion euros, according to Gabriel Attal. “Give us a lesson in economics! We are here to drink your words, but when we have a balance sheet of 1,000 billion in debt, we need a lot more humility,” replied the president of the National Rally.
“I understand that Mr. Macron tried to fire you,” says Bardella
Gabriel Attal firmly attacked Jordan Bardella’s proposal to ban “sensitive jobs” for dual nationals. The Prime Minister discusses the case of two young binational women, a Franco-Moroccan and a Franco-Armenian, met during the day who told him they felt “humiliated” by the proposal of the leader of the RN. “They told me to tell you that they were offended by the measure on dual nationals included in your program,” explained the tenant of Matignon.
An attack that Jordan Bardella had little taste for. “They really exist? You’re acting very badly,” he told the Prime Minister, asking him if he would accept a Franco-Russian person being at the head of a nuclear power plant. Before adding: “When I see the level of your arguments, I understand that the three of us are gathered there, and I understand that Mr. Macron sought to fire you.”
Manuel Bompard, for his part, recalled that “France was built with waves of immigration”. “Contrary to what you say, immigrants do not cost money, but bring in money,” he says to Jordan Bardella, explaining that this proposal “has offended millions of French people.” “, he also denounced. “Of course, when we assign jobs to sensitive positions, there are investigations. But that already exists. You want to concentrate your measurement on those who have two nationalities, and leave aside the others.”
“Are you going to self-exempt yourself from taxes?”, tackles Attal
Jordan Bardella assured that he will be “the Prime Minister of fiscal peace”, reiterating his proposal to want to “implement an audit on the State accounts”, but also to “exempt income tax young people under 30 years old. A proposal which made Gabriel Attal react, questioned by his 28-year-old opponent: “Are you going to self-exempt yourself from taxes?” “Why would a 31-year-old worker pay taxes and a 29-year-old consultant or trader stop paying taxes?” he attacked again. Before adding that “the reality is that those who are between 30 and 60 years old and who are working today should be afraid when they hear you”.