Gérald Darmanin keeps the pressure on Michel Barnier. Two days before the Prime Minister’s general policy declaration, the Northern deputy made his political return, on Sunday, September 29 in Tourcoing (North), during which warned Matignon’s tenant against any further tax increases.
“ “Many of us will not be able to support a government that raises taxes.” warned Darmanin, while his Renaissance party has thirteen members in the government. Among the 450 guests were ministers Sébastien Lecornu (army) and Agnès Pannier-Runacher (ecology), as well as government spokesperson Maud Bregeon.
While stating that he “supported” the new government – “because your success will be the success of my country, which I love more than anything.” – However, he suggested that he would not vote in favor of the budget that Michel Barnier will present before December 31, 2024, if new taxes came into force, especially for the richest households or companies. “I understand that this increase would only affect the richest French: but the money of the richest should go to job creation, not to public coffers”justified Darmanin, who proposes, on the contrary, new tax cuts for companies, because “Production taxes are weighing down our industry.”
Tensions
These statements come after several weeks of tensions between the deputies of the Ensemble pour la République (EPR) group and the Prime Minister on tax matters. Since his appointment in Matignon, the issue has been constantly agitated by the presidential camp to put pressure on Michel Barnier, of the Republicans (LR), and who is criticized for the vagueness maintained about his intentions.
On the same day, the twenty-seven deputies of the “Solféri-no” group, which brings together the “right” of the EPR, published an article in La Tribune du Dimanche to oppose the tax increases. Gérald Darmanin, who was Minister of Public Accounts under Edouard Philippe (2017-2020), could also count on the support of the latter, who came to Tourcoing to remember that the two men had “ “both reduced taxes and significantly reduced the deficit.” when they were in government. “Everyone can draw whatever conclusions they want” -the former prime minister insisted in a barely veiled message to Michel Barnier.
The event was also an opportunity for the presidential party to show its unity. In front of the cameras, Gabriel Attal embarked on a game of bourlé, a traditional Northern game, with his presenter of the day. The former prime minister, however, did not speak publicly and shied away from political speeches, particularly that of Elisabeth Borne, with whom he is competing to take the helm of Renaissance.
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