PARIS (Reuters) – The French Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, declared in an interview published on Saturday that she was not opposed to the principle of a tax on “super profits”, however judging more effective a voluntary reduction in prices by companies in order to to protect the purchasing power of consumers.
The idea of a tax on the super profits of companies that benefit from inflation is debated in France, including within the majority.
The energy group TotalEnergies and the shipping company CMA CGM announced price cuts at the end of July, responding to the government’s call to increase their participation in the fight against inflation.
“I do not close the door to tax super profits,” said Elisabeth Borne, in an interview published on the website of the daily Le Parisien.
“But I think that the most effective and the most concrete for the French is when a company, when it can, lowers prices for the consumer and gives purchasing power to its salaries”, she adds. .
She also said the government would continue to cushion rising energy prices.
“The French can be reassured, we will cushion the increases, we are not going to let energy prices explode,” she stressed.
In this interview, Elisabeth Borne also announced the creation of a “green fund” endowed with 1.5 billion euros for local authorities to help them accelerate their ecological transition.
(Written by Jean-Michel Blot)