Among the main measures are the early revaluations of retirement pensions and social benefits, the increase in the treatment of public officials, or even a food check of 100 euros.
Avalanche of amendments and close votes in sight: flagship project of the summer, the package of government measures in favor of purchasing power arrives Monday before the National Assembly, where the oppositions will compete with proposals in the face of inflation which is accelerating. The 20-article bill “laying down emergency measures for the protection of purchasing power”passes first reading until Thursday, with more than a thousand amendments to the key. MEPs will continue with the examination of the draft amending budget for 2022 which should make it possible to finance and supplement these measures.
Among the main ones are the early revaluations of 4% of retirement pensions and social benefits, the 3.5% increase in the salary of public officials, a means-tested food check of 100 euros, to which will be added 50 euros per child. There is also the extension of the fuel discount of 18 cents and the tariff shield on energy, the abolition of the audiovisual license fee or even the tripling of the Macron bonus (tax-free and desocialized).
Read alsoPurchasing power: “Whatever it (over)costs”
The final adoption, after a shuttle with the Senate, is scheduled for August 7, if the government’s plan goes as planned. Because in the absence of an absolute majority, the game promises to be difficult for the macronists if they want to keep the “balances» financial. During the past week, the government suffered a first setback on the health bill, adopted without a key article on the possible return of an anti-Covid health pass for entries into France.
A “baroque hitch”
The LR, LFI and RN deputies coalesced against this pass, in what the majority denounced as a “brown red wedding ring“, Emmanuel Macron a”baroque hitch” at a “nocturnal heatstroke“. Could the same scenario not happen again during the week and see the adoption of measures against the advice of the government? It’s time for mobilization on the majority side on this text “the most awaited by the Frenchand high stakes in presidential and legislative campaigns. “When the battle rings (for the vote on laws, editor’s note), not one must be missing“Warned Emmanuel Macron a few days ago.
Faced with high inflation (5.8% over one year in June), LR deputies are pushing in particular for a “drop in fuel prices to 1.5 euros per liter», the RNs for a reduction in VAT on energy prices. The left alliance Nupes will decline in amendments its own text “social emergency“, with an increase in the Smic to 1500 euros or taxation of”superprofits» large groups. No “demagogy» but of «serious budget“replied the head of state in his July 14 interview, wanting to believe”to the spirit of responsibility of the political forces in the Assembly“.
Read alsoMacron whistles the end of whatever it costs for state aid against inflation
The Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire also castigates the “financial madnessOppositions with their 100 billion euros of proposals, while the burst of aid discussed this week is estimated at around twenty billion and the guardians of public finances like the Court of Auditors are already ticking. However, he reached out to the LRs, saying he was open to further tax exemption for overtime – as voted in committee – and to broaden the compensation for those who use their vehicle to go to work.
“The purchasing power text will pass, but it will cost 20 billion more“by letting go of the opposition, predicts an LREM source, who wonders how they could vote against. In fact, the RN group led by Marine Le Pen has already planned to support this text “urgent“, some Nupes consider that”it’s better than nothing» and the right promises to be «demandingon funding.
Read alsoAre you vulnerable or protected against inflation?
A Macronist tenor to abound: “The advantage is that the oppositions want to go further, but do not ask us to give up any measure“, except the left on the abolition of the fee or on the floating LNG terminal project in Le Havre. Hope for the newmethod» and the search for compromise: a consensus is emerging on the deconjugalization of the allowance for disabled adults (AAH), that is to say without taking into account the income of the spouse.