Centerpiece of the government system at the start of the legislature marked by high inflation and geopolitical tensions that affect growth, the Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, is in the front line when it comes to getting parliamentarians to adopt the draft emergency law on the protection of purchasing power and on the amending finance bill by ensuring the financing.
On purchasing power, the opponents accuse you of not seeking compromise enough. Are you ready to reach an agreement, particularly on fuel, with Les Républicains (LR)?
Sure ! We are open to compromise. But we need a framework: nothing that can damage our public finances, everything for climate transition, everything for work. The abolition of taxes on fuels is therefore not an option. It is an irreversible measure which would cost the taxpayer tens of billions of euros each year. And in addition to subsidize a fossil fuel. The government is offering a discount of 18 euro cents per liter until 1er October, then a more targeted allowance. If the LRs believe that it is necessary to do more than 18 cents, why not? One thing is certain: the compromises that will lead to discussions in the Assembly must respect our envelope of 4.4 billion euros for 2022.
Part of the majority is now in favor of a tax on “super profits”, which you oppose…
Let’s not fall into an intellectual scam that would suggest that all French companies would have benefited from the crisis. Many of our businesses are affected by rising energy prices and supply difficulties. Only a few companies, notably in the energy and shipping sectors, made significant profits. We ask them to make an effort. I am thinking in particular of Total and CMA-CGM. They made their first commitments. Should they do more? Certainly yes. We will do the accounts during the 2023 finance bill.
Spain, Italy or the United Kingdom have introduced this exceptional tax…
You forget that these three countries have mandatory deduction rates lower than ours! In France, each difficulty is met with a new tax. This Pavlovian reflex in no way improves the purchasing power of the French. With the attractiveness of the country, the valuation of work and support for businesses, lower taxes are part of the political DNA of our majority. Let us affirm our political identity. Do not give in to the sirens of opposition. Let’s be ourselves. Let’s never forget that our economic choices since 2017 have put us on the path to full employment and have made France the most attractive country for foreign investment in Europe.
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