On Monday, François Bayrou called for a targeted increase in taxes, a proposal that the MoDem party has been advocating for years. However, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire rejected this suggestion outright. Bayrou emphasized the importance of an open and honest discussion on this issue, especially with the upcoming announcement from INSEE about a public deficit in 2023 that is much higher than initially forecasted.
When asked about comments made by President of the National Assembly Yaël Braun-Pivet regarding taxing companies with “super profits” or “super dividends,” Bayrou pointed out that his party had previously proposed similar measures in budgetary years. He stressed the need for any rebalancing measures to target those with the most means, including those who have been hit hardest by the crisis.
In addition to discussing tax increases, Bayrou also expressed his opposition to a new unemployment insurance reform that aims to reduce compensation duration. He argued that unemployed individuals should not be blamed for unemployment, especially considering they have lost work skills over time. Instead, he suggested that reforms should focus on addressing the root causes of unemployment.
Overall, Bayrou’s statements underscored the importance of fair and targeted measures to tackle economic challenges facing France while also taking into account their impact on individuals and businesses. He encouraged open dialogue and collaboration between government officials and legislators to find effective solutions to these complex issues.
