2024-11-21 01:11:00
The Minister of the Economy, Antoine Armand, at the National Assembly, in Paris, October 22, 2024. STÉPHANIE LECOCQ / REUTERS
After the Senate’s reduction of reductions in employer contributions in the Social Security budget (PLFSS), the Minister of the Economy, Antoine Armand, warns of the temptation to want to tax businesses more.
These latter “must not be the adjustment variable”he warns in an interview with Parisian, published Wednesday, November 20 in the evening.
The removal of reductions in charges, even reduced to 3 billion euros by the Senate on Tuesday evening – compared to 4 billion in the initial text of the Social Security budget project (PLFSS) – displeases businesses and the Macronist camp, because they appear to go against the policy of sustained supply almost without fail since 2017.
“My political family carries a message: it is not by bludgeoning businesses and increasing labor costs that we create jobs and growth”remarks Mr. Armand. “The EPR group [Ensemble pour la République] is right to insist: we must go as far as possible to preserve contribution reductions”he continues, adding: “Be careful of the excess tax! »while the idea of an increase in the mobility payment, an employer contribution to the financing of public transport, is looming.
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“I am Michel Barnier’s minister and above all I belong to the Ensemble pour la République family. Let’s stop being afraid of words: we are in a coalition. This means that political forces that don’t agree on everything work together.”he adds in particular about the sticking points between Michel Barnier and the EPR deputies.
A “fair and responsible” interview, judge Gabriel Attal
These remarks sparked a chorus of praise from the latter, and particularly from their president, Gabriel Attal, who, on the X platform, judges the interview with Mr. Armand “fair and responsible”. With the deputies of the EPR group, “we continue to defend the competitiveness of our economy in the service of employment. Alternative paths to increasing charges exist. Thank you to the Prime Minister and the government for listening, the work continues with them”assures the former tenant of Matignon.
Mr. Attal republished at the same time another message on X from the group of EPR deputies, who welcomed the interview just after its publication, arguing that “we cannot take the risk of increasing labor costs”.
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In the interview, Mr. Armand judges «irresponsible» All “pseudo-blackmail into resignation”in case his requests are not heard, and recalls that Mr. Barnier “has always opened the door to adjustments in return for savings proposals”.
The risk of the motion of censure
Among these possible savings, he mentions the tightening of unemployment insurance conditions, already proposed in the spring. He recalls that he is in favor of “a debate on working time”has “touching the lifestyle of the State”or medical transport by taxi, “which costs Health Insurance 3 billion euros per year. Or 50,000 euros per year per taxi”.
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He seems to hope that the motion of censure which would result from recourse to article 49.3 of the Constitution by the government on the budget would not be adopted, while Marine Le Pen is currently threatening to join it. “How could the French understand that oppositions who share almost nothing would nevertheless vote together on a motion of censure, effectively putting France without a budget and without a government on Christmas Eve? »he asks himself.
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Questioned about the president of the deputies of the Les Républicains party (the Republican Right group), Laurent Wauquiez, who regularly irritates the EPR group, Antoine Armand judges that the political situation “is too new to have any qualms. If sometimes some people have methods, postures or positions that provoke a reaction, let’s not fall into the trap”.
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**Interview with Antoine Armand, Minister of the Economy**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Armand. Your recent statements regarding the potential tax increases on businesses have garnered significant attention. Can you elaborate on the implications of such measures?
**Antoine Armand:** Thank you for having me. My stance is clear: it is not by burdening businesses with higher taxes or labor costs that we can foster job creation and economic growth. In our economy, businesses must not be the adjustment variable when it comes to fiscal policies. The priority should be to maintain and even further decrease employer contributions wherever possible. This is the message I deliver as part of the Ensemble pour la République group.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the importance of preserving contribution reductions. Could you detail what specific actions you believe the government should take to support this?
**Antoine Armand:** Absolutely. It’s vital to prioritize the competitiveness of our economy. While there are voices advocating for increased contributions, we must explore alternative paths that do not compromise this competitiveness. We need to approach fiscal challenges with caution and ensure that any policy introduced does not impose unnecessary burdens on businesses.
**Interviewer:** Controversy has arisen with the recent budget changes proposed by the Senate. How do you view these changes, particularly the reduction of employer contribution reductions?
**Antoine Armand:** The Senate’s decision to reduce these contributions, albeit to a lesser extent than initially proposed, is concerning. It seems counterproductive to our long-standing policy commitments aimed at supporting businesses. We cannot afford to disregard the lessons learned over the past years regarding supply-side economics and its impact on growth.
**Interviewer:** You also touched on the notion of a coalition government. How do you think differing perspectives within the coalition can be harmonized?
**Antoine Armand:** The nature of a coalition is to navigate differences while working toward common goals. My alignment with Michel Barnier underscores a commitment to dialog. We must be open to adjustments based on constructive feedback and proposals for savings while preserving our core values on economic competitiveness.
**Interviewer:** In light of potential motions of censure against government actions, do you feel the government is on the right path?
**Antoine Armand:** While challenges persist, I believe we are focused on pragmatic solutions. My goal is to ensure that we remain resilient and responsive to the needs of our economy. It’s crucial for us to engage in discussions that yield constructive feedback rather than resorting to what I may term “pseudo-blackmail.”
**Interviewer:** do you have a message for the businesses affected by these policies?
**Antoine Armand:** To businesses, I say: we hear your concerns, and our commitment to you is unwavering. We aim to create a favorable business environment that encourages growth and innovation. Let’s work together to find solutions that benefit everyone involved.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Mr. Armand, for sharing your insights with us today.
**Antoine Armand:** Thank you for facilitating this discussion.
