Budget 2025: “austerity” for the left, not enough of a break for the RN… The political class reacts

The draft budget for 2025, presented Thursday by the government, provokes contrasting reactions within the different political groups in France, particularly on its economic and social orientations.

Reactions on the left: an austerity budget

For Eric Coquerel, president of the finance committee, this project is a “super austerity budget”, particularly affecting the middle and working classes. He welcomed the increase of 2 billion euros in taxes on very high incomes, but deplored the increase of 3 billion euros on energy, which he believes will largely impact all French people. He also judged the planned reductions in ecology, national education and health to be “unbearable”, promising to “entirely transform” the text into committee.

Likewise, the socialist deputy Philippe Brun denounced an “austerity” budget which, according to him, endangers growth and employment. He believes that certain tax increases, such as that on electricity, are “unjustifiable and unacceptable”. According to him, this budget is based on a logic of reverse redistribution, where we “take from the poor to give to the rich”, thus accentuating social inequalities.

4000 fewer positions in Education. After spreading misery, here is the organization of ignorance. This budget is a calamity.

— Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) October 10, 2024

Far right: absence of rupture and poorly distributed efforts

For the National Rally, this budget does not represent the necessary break with the policies of the last 50 years, marked according to them by poor management of public finances. MP Jean-Philippe Tanguy criticizes the distribution of efforts, emphasizing that the middle and working classes will suffer 7 billion euros of constraints, while the richest will only be affected by 2 billion. This distribution, considered unacceptable, is seen as a sign that the government is not sufficiently attacking the privileges of the most fortunate.

Necessary structural adjustments

The MoDem deputies, allies of the government, appear more moderate and adopt a constructive tone. However, they call for accompanying economic measures with more ambitious structural reforms. They wish to fight against “rent situations” and “windfall effects”, while insisting on increased tax justice. The group also proposes that certain measures be limited in time so as not to have a lasting impact on the economy.

Concerns about budget cuts

Guadeloupe MP Olivier Serva expressed his strong opposition to the 10% reduction in the budget of overseas territories, describing this measure as unthinkable. He emphasizes that this budget cut is particularly scandalous in a context of high tension, such as the social situation in Martinique. He considers this reduction as an abandonment of overseas territories, which already have major economic and social challenges.