A panel of measures to respond to the concerns of the French, but also to try to demine the criticisms of the oppositions. The government, which presented its long-awaited “purchasing power package” on Thursday July 7, hammered home a round figure: 20 billion euros. Devices for the most part already announced, but by which the executive wanted to recall the masses of public money mobilized since the fall of 2021 in support of households penalized by inflation.
Of the “massive protective measures”insisted the Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, at the end of the Council of Ministers on Thursday, hastening to add that the “public finance alert rating” was reached. A way to rule out any desire to go further despite criticism from the opposition tempted to outbid, given their new weight in the National Assembly since the legislative elections of June 12 and 19.
In concrete terms, the additional 20 billion euros to deal with the increase in prices, in particular of energy, cover proposals included in two texts: a bill “on emergency measures for the protection of the power of ‘purchase’ and an amending budget, which will be discussed in Parliament from mid-July. The first major project of Emmanuel Macron’s second five-year term, this package will be submitted to an Assembly where the Head of State only has a relative majority. However, the oppositions, whether it be the left alliance, the classic right or the extreme right, want to do battle with the executive on this subject which dominated the electoral campaign and partly shaped the new composition of the Hemicycle. The first two in particular have presented their counter-proposals in recent days, threatening not to vote on the text if they are not included. “We have taken into account certain proposals from the oppositionyet advances an adviser to the executive. In particular on the revaluations of benefits. »
In detail, the government’s proposal includes a procession of new measures, and extended existing devices, both to mitigate the effects of inflation and to revalue a certain number of benefits. To counter the rise in the price of gasoline, a “fuel allowance for workers”, from 100 to 300 euros depending on income and distance from the workplace, will concern half of the poorest French people, i.e. some 12 million households. It will take over, from October, the discount of 18 cents at the pump, which will be gradually reduced by December. Total cost of the two measures by the end of the year: 4.6 billion euros.
You have 62.88% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.