“No new taxes or increases” for the middle classes, promises the Minister of Public Accounts

Bayrou Governmentdossier

On the eve of the reception of political parties in Bercy, Amélie de Montchalin estimated this Sunday, January 5 that “more than ten billion euros of savings are still missing”. It nevertheless expects a deficit at the end of 2025 which “will not significantly exceed 5%”.

Before putting the 2025 budget and the uncertainties that accompany it back on the table, the new Minister of Public Accounts, Amélie de Montchalin, wanted to reassure: there will be no “no new taxes or tax increases that would penalize the purchasing power of the middle class”, she said this Sunday evening, January 5 at the Parisian. Government member Bayrou notably ruled out a possible increase in VAT, which “is therefore not an option considered”.

On the other hand, this historic Macronist declared that she wanted “keep the additional contribution on large companies as well as the tax on share buybacks” just like “airline ticket tax”. By also emphasizing his desire that “existing taxes be paid by all”, Amélie de Montchalin hears “actively fight against tax over-optimization and fraud systems.

Asked about the efforts required of communities, the minister described“courageous agreement” “the last agreement which provided for around 2 billion euros in savings”, instead of the 6.5 billion initially planned by the former head of government Michel Barnier.

From Monday, Amélie de Montchalin and Eric Lombard, Minister of the Economy, will receive the different political forces in Bercy to prepare the 2025 budget. «The special lawwhich made it possible to simply extend that of last year, is not tenable. We do not want a France with minimum service” et “we need a budget” insisted the minister.

The former Minister of the Public Service and then of the Ecological Transition claimed to have not “no red lines but strong convictions”: “We must find a compromise and everyone must take a step. Let us be clear: this budget will neither be that of the right, nor that of the left, nor that of the center. It will not be the ideal budget of a party, it will be that of the country.

“We will start from the texts under discussion in Parliament. Elements have reached consensus, it would be absurd not to keep them. Others have contributed to censorship: we must take this into account, discuss it with the political forces and significantly amend the budget”added Amélie de Montchalin.

“Not a totem economy measure”

“Compared to the text from the Senate, we are still missing more than ten billion euros in savings”she estimated, inviting us to make the expenditure public “more efficient”. “Everyone can and should save more”according to her.

“I will make proposals so that the deficit at the end of 2025 does not significantly exceed 5%” of GDP, while the previous government aimed for 5%, after an expected slippage to 6.1% in 2024, she summarized.

“We do not have a totem economy measure”declared Amélie de Montchalin again, saying to herself “opposed to blind measurements, to the plane”. “There are parliamentary works in the cabinets, independent institutions like the Court of Auditors which propose savings. Let’s use them!”

Source: www.liberation.fr