While the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire castigates the “financial madness of the opposition, tempted to add support measures for households in the purchasing power “package” soon to be examined in the National Assembly, several right-wing elected officials say they are in turn ready to examine the trail of a tax “on the superprofits of crisis profiteers”. In other words, the groups whose profits have increased rapidly in a context of inflation, in particular the energy companies, first in line of sight.
The deputy for Orne Véronique Louwagie, leader of the right-wing elected representatives on the finance committee, presents this measure as a possible source of financing for LR’s proposals in favor of purchasing power, such as a reduced fuel price at 1.50 euros per litre. Such a device, which remains to be calibrated, could bring in a billion euros, according to its calculations, even if it has not tabled an amendment on the subject. “We are making proposals on superprofits”she admits.
The MP for Lot Aurélien Pradié is also in favor of it, and intends to present an appeal amendment for “launch an alert on the matter, request a report, or launch a commission of inquiry”, he says, referring to the explosion in the price of certain foodstuffs, such as Nutella. He raised the subject during an LR group meeting two weeks ago. “But if you want to go deeper, you have to work a little. Do we rely on the observatory of prices and margins? Do we compare margins over a long period? Are certain increases justified by inventory problems? », he explains, saying that “the idea is gaining ground [chez LR]including among the least favorable initially”.
“It’s not completely easy”
Same story with the deputy of Jura and member of the finance committee Marie-Christine Dalloz, in favor of a one-off and time-limited measure. “The provision has nothing to do with the Nupes amendment [qui milite pour une taxe sur les profits de cinq grands groupes et rapportant 10 milliards d’euros]. But we are thinking seriously about finding the origins of the distortion between the price per barrel and the price at the pump compared to prices ten years ago. » One way to respond to the government: “We are criticized for spending money, here we are on a revenue subject”she continues.
Asked in The echoes on the subject a few days ago, the president of the LR group in the Assembly, Olivier Marleix, had also admitted to wondering « on companies in the energy sector that have access to cheap electricity via ARENH [Accès régulé à l’électricité nucléaire historique] and who see their profits increase”. While asking the government to “Sustainably lower taxes and duties that undermine the purchasing power of the French, already hit hard by record inflation”.
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