Michel Barnier took advantage of an intervention on France 2 to assert his authority and unveil several important measures concerning taxation, public debt management, immigration, agriculture and social reforms. “I accept being unpopular,” he insisted, emphasizing that he was ready to face criticism to move forward on his priorities. Here is the gist of his statements.
Taxation of large companies and the wealthiest
During his speech, Michel Barnier announced targeted tax increases on around “300 companies” which have a turnover of more than one billion euros. “We are going to ask for an effort from the largest companies which make more than a billion,” he explained. The contribution will be temporary and limited to a duration “fixed in the law”, which could be “one year, perhaps two years”. He insisted that there will be no tax increase for “almost all of the 4 million businesses”.
At the same time, the Prime Minister confirmed that the richest households, those earning more than 500,000 euros per year, would also be affected by an increase in taxation. This measure will make it possible to recover “2 billion euros” to contribute to reducing the deficit.
Public debt and state reform
Of course, Michel Barnier addressed the issue of public debt, specifying that the effort to reduce it by 60 billion euros will be done essentially by reducing public spending. “There will be a two-thirds reduction in public spending. And it’s going to be very hard,” he said. In particular, it envisages the merger of certain public services as well as the possibility of not replacing all retiring civil servants.
He recognized that these decisions would be difficult, but necessary to restore the balance of public finances and reduce the country’s debt. Despite the rigor of the measures envisaged, Barnier insisted on the need to maintain a responsible and measured approach.
Immigration and social reform
During this long intervention, the Prime Minister wanted to clarify his position on immigration, a sensitive subject within the government. “I’m the one who draws the line,” he said. Michel Barnier therefore promised “rigorous measures to control” migratory flows, without however giving in to calls for new laws or to initiate “major ideological debates” on the subject.
Michel Barnier also took the time to explain his social assistance reform project. He thus wishes to launch, “for next year”, a project on a “single social allowance”, with the aim of making work more attractive compared to inactivity so that “it pays more to work than not to work,” he said. This reform aims to simplify the social assistance system while creating a framework that encourages work.
Support for the agricultural world
Michel Barnier did not forget to mention the situation of farmers, affirming that he understood their concerns regarding the multiplication of standards and constraints. During his speech, he promised to “take a break from agricultural standards”, in order to support a profession hard hit by the economic and ecological crises.
“They are fed up with constraints, rules and controls,” he admitted, adding that farmers play a vital role in society by providing “healthy, balanced, diversified, traceable food” to the French. .