Extension of the tariff shield on energy prices, abolition of the audiovisual fee, unfreezing of the index point for civil servants… All these promises by candidate Emmanuel Macron will be included in a bill on purchasing power which will be presented “in the wake of the legislative elections”announced the government spokesman, Gabriel Attal, at the end of the Council of Ministers, Wednesday, May 11.
Already being prepared, this text provides for the extension of the tariff shield on energy prices until the end of 2022 and the establishment of a “sustainable and better targeted device than the 18-cent discount on fuel prices, which will obviously be continued”. “We will continue to lower taxes”also said Mr. Attal, by integrating into this text the abolition of the contribution to public broadcasting (or audiovisual royalty) that Emmanuel Macron said he wanted during his campaign.
Tripling of the “Macron” bonus
Gabriel Attal has also included in this amending finance bill the tripling of the so-called “Macron” bonus, or purchasing power bonus. As a reminder, the purchasing power bonus was created in 2019 to meet the demands of “yellow vests”. It allows employers to pay employees earning less than three times the minimum wage a bonus exempt from tax for the employee and social security contributions for the boss. It was capped so far at 1,000 euros. Mr. Macron wants to raise this level to 6,000 euros.
The bill will also relate to the unfreezing of the index point for civil servants – the Minister of the Public Service, Amélie de Montchalin, announced in March that the index point, used to calculate the salaries of agents, would be revalued ” before summer “. On this subject, Mr. Macron had said that he wished, during his campaign, to go further than the thawing of the index point. On Franceinfo, on April 15, he announced in particular that, “in the summer”the future government will be responsible for “to carry out a complete reform of the grids and the organization of the public service. And, then, there will be a revaluation of the point, so that it makes it possible to accompany the elements of purchasing power”.
By continuing to list the measures included in this amending finance bill, Gabriel Attal then mentioned this Wednesday a revaluation of social benefits at 1er July, “without waiting for the usual calendar”. “We are going to revalue retirement pensions with inflation”also announced the government spokesperson in reference to another campaign promise, as was the creation of food vouchers “starting this summer”.
In addition, while it was the last Council of Ministers of Emmanuel Macron’s first term, the latter thanked his government team for the work accomplished since July 2020. The Head of State “thanked each and everyone for the work that has been done (…) He said with solemnity and affection that he had been very proud to be around this table with Jean Castex and his government for the past two years.underlined Gabriel Attal.