Following the reduction by the Senate of the reductions in business contributions to the Social Security budget (PLFSS), the Minister of Economy, Antoine Armand, warns of the temptation to want to tax companies more. The latter” should not be the adjustment variable »warns in an interview with Parisianpublished on Wednesday night, November 20.
The elimination of burden reductions, even reduced to 3 billion euros by the Senate on Tuesday night – compared to 4 billion in the initial text of the draft Social Security budget (PLFSS) – displeases companies and to the Macronist camp, because they seem to go against the supply policy sustained almost without exception since 2017.
“My in-laws send a message: it is not by hitting companies and increasing labor costs that we create jobs and growth”comments Mr. Armand. “The EPR group [Ensemble pour la République] You are right to insist: we must go as far as possible to preserve contribution reductions.”He continues, adding: “Beware of excess taxes! »while the idea of an increase in payment for mobility, a business contribution to the financing of public transport, is glimpsed.
“I am Michel Barnier’s minister and, above all, I belong to the Ensemble pour la République family. Let’s stop being afraid of words: we are in a coalition. This means that political forces that don’t agree on everything work together.”He adds in particular about the points of conflict between Michel Barnier and the EPR deputies.
A “fair and responsible” interview, judge Gabriel Attal
These statements provoked a chorus of praise from the latter and, in particular, from its president, Gabriel Attal, who, on platform X, judges the interview with Armand. “fair and responsible”. With the deputies Together, “We continue to defend the competitiveness of our economy at the service of employment. There are alternative ways to increase charges. Thank you to the Prime Minister and the government for listening to us, the work continues with them”assures Matignon’s former tenant.
Attal republished at the same time another message about X from the group of EPR deputies, who welcomed the interview shortly after its publication, arguing that “We cannot take the risk of increasing labor costs”.
In the interview, Mr. Armand judges “irresponsible” All “pseudo-blackmail for resignation”in case your requests are not heard, and remember that Mr. Barnier “it has always opened the door to adjustments in exchange for savings proposals”.
The risk of the motion of censure
Among these possible savings, he mentions the tightening of the conditions of unemployment insurance, proposed in spring by the EPR. Remember that he is in favor of “a debate on working time”has “touching the lifestyle of the State”or medical transport by taxi, “which costs health insurance 3 billion per year. Or 50,000 euros a year per taxi”.
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He seems to hope that the motion of no confidence that would result from a 49.3 in the budget will not be approved, while Marine Le Pen is currently threatening to join it. “How could the French understand that oppositions that share almost nothing would vote together on a motion of censure, leaving France without a budget and without a government on Christmas Eve? »he wonders.
Finally, asked about the leader of the Republican deputies, Laurent Wauquiez, who regularly irritates the EPR group, Armand considers that the political situation “It’s too new to have scruples. If sometimes some have methods, postures or positions that provoke a reaction, let’s not fall into the trap.”.
