Two great things for the price of one: deputies debate, this Friday, October 31, the taxation of assets, in the context of an ultimatum from the PS for greater “fiscal justice”, and some parliamentarians must decide in committee on the suspension of the pension reform, another key to non-censorship.
Starting at 9:00 a.m., deputies will reopen debates on the draft state budget, with the delicate issue of wealth taxation and the now famous Zucman tax, after having approved in recent days several taxes on large companies or technological giants.
A sign of the importance of the moment is that Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu should go to the Assembly during the day to participate in the debates, according to his entourage, while the PS threatens to censure if the government refuses to tax high wealth.
In particular, a tax proposed by the Government on certain holding companies, companies that own shares in other companies, is on the menu and is sparking debate in its own camp. Then proposals will come from all sides. The National Group and MoDem will propose, for example, their versions of a wealth tax. The left will defend, among other things, the establishment of economist Gabriel Zucman’s tax, a minimum tax of 2% on assets of more than 100 million euros.
“Strainer tax”
The socialists will also propose to the government field their version of a compromise: 3% of 10 million euros, but excluding innovative and family companies. Philippe Brun (PS), negotiator of his group on the budget, estimates his return at “15 billion”, a significantly higher estimate for this Zucman bis compared to previous calculations.
But he has a hard time convincing the rest of the left. “We have never been against voting on alternative amendments,” but “it is a sieve tax,” considers Eric Coquerel, president of the LFI Finance Committee. And the horizon seems blocked by a clamor in the center and in the RN.
Zucman is “no, neither light nor hard nor anything at all,” insisted Marine Le Pen, head of RN. For his part, Sébastien Lecornu estimated on Thursday that “improvised taxes should not create certain bankruptcies” of companies. Enough to arouse pessimism: “Zucman does not work, nor does the (reserve) amendment,” say two PS deputies separately.
However, some imagine another path in case of failure, such as a government amendment during the session that would reconcile various sides. “If it contributes as much as the Zucman tax, we will analyze it,” PS deputy head Boris Vallaud said on Thursday. If there is a “third way, it is up to the government to propose it.”
Vote on pensions
In the shadow of the chamber, the Social Affairs Commission will examine the Social Security budget throughout the day. The stakes are lower as deputies will return to the chamber next week from the government’s initial copy. Several hot points will be discussed: the freezing of social benefits, the expected amount of health insurance costs, etc. But the expected vote will be on the suspension of the pension reform, another condition of non-censorship of the PS that the Prime Minister has accepted.
If there is a majority in the Assembly to simply repeal the reform, the fate of this article in committee is uncertain. LR and Horizons (Edouard Philippe’s party) will propose its suppression and could count on the support of the Macronists. According to a group source, RN should vote in favor, like the socialists.
But the rebels will not vote in committee on the article, which consists of a simple “postponement of the increase in the legal exit age”, says Hadrien Clouet. Environmentalists are also considering it and will decide on Friday: “Unfortunately, Macron is right, this is a change and not a suspension, which somewhere ratifies the 64 years,” emphasizes Danielle Simonnet.
Source: BFM TV
