The “high cost of living” harms the overseas territories, and the issue did not cease to irritate the elected officials of these territories, meeting on Monday, November 18 in Issy-les-Moulineaux (Hauts-de-Seine), for the annual congress of the Association of Mayors of France (AMF). On this topic, “The moment of truth has arrived, we have to put everything on the table now”assured the Overseas Minister. According to François-Noël Buffet, the agreement signed in Martinique “it’s good”because the large Béké distribution groups, pointed out by the left, have made a real effort in the prices of many products. Faced with the protest movement led by Rodrigue Petitot in Fort-de-France, Buffet believes that the government must regain control one way or another, in the hope of dragging with it the elected officials mistreated by citizen groups.
But, in the midst of a battle over an austerity budget, what can we promise but attention? “Let’s start by taking stock”the minister limited himself to announcing. This disappointing position has provoked strong disapproval from mayors, because numerous reports have already analyzed the mechanisms that push prices abroad to maximum levels. In 2023, the National Assembly even created a commission of inquiry into this issue.
Time saved, again? This is true of the insular tax, that tax on imported goods that has been accused of driving up prices: “In 2025 the reform will not be applied”the minister indicated. However, Elisabeth Borne’s government included it on the agenda, arguing that Brussels would not tolerate this exception, similar to a customs right within the European Union, for much longer.
The issue continues to spark lively debates among local authorities, as island duties represent on average 35% of their income. They are mobilized by the fear of its abolition in favor of VAT, which would make them lose this fiscal autonomy. “When you want to kill your dog, you accuse it of rabies.”launched Sophie Charles, elected representative of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni (no label), in Guyana: “If we eliminate island taxes, our populations will be disappointed because prices will continue to be very high. » The responsibility of the communities cannot be ruled out, said Yan Monplaisir, mayor of Saint-Joseph (various right), in Martinique, recalling that the rate of the island tax on rice amounted to 22%, in contradiction with the idea of protecting the basic needs. of inflation.
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