French far-right to present a ‘counter-budget’; what do they want changed?
Rassemblement National wants to put pressure on government over last week’s budget announcement
The alternative budget will be presented at a press conference on Wednesday
Alexandros Michailidis / Obatala-photography/ Shutterstock
Far-right party Rassemblement National (RN) will present a ‘counter-budget’ this week, which they will promote in opposition to the budget proposed by the French government last Thursday (October 10).
The party has called the budget set out by prime minister Michel Barnier – seeking to close a €60 billion deficit via savings and tax increases – as ‘absolutely unacceptable’.
The alternative budget will be announced at a press conference on Wednesday (October 16) and will seek to put pressure on Mr Barnier and his allies over a budget that has been criticised across the political spectrum.
Read more: Tax increases and spending cuts: France's 2025 budget revealed
RN and its allies have the largest number of MPs of any single party in the Assemblée nationale – 142 – and the creation of the counter-budget will likely spark fears in the prime ministerial camp over whether the budget can be passed via a vote.
If it cannot, the government could use the controversial article 49.3 measure, but this can trigger a vote of no confidence.
What will be in the counter-budget?
“As things stand, this budget is absolutely unacceptable,” said RN MP and party spokesperson Thomas Ménagé on Saturday (October 12) to FranceInfo.
“We won't be able to accept the budget as it stands, because in the end it puts the burden on the average working [person in France], contrary to what was promised,” he added.
In terms of what will be in the RN’s proposals, “Mr Barnier's basic deal [will be] respected,” Mr Ménagé said, with “70% of the savings to be made from cuts to state expenditure and 30% from tax increases.”
Examples for savings include a focus on “immigration, social and tax fraud, the contribution to the European Union… the end of subsidies for intermittent energies… and the reduction in the cost of living of the State,” he added.
In addition, he suggested various agencies could be centralised, although Mr Ménagé did not say how much money this would save.
Less opposition to taxes
In general, the RN are less opposed to the tax increases on wealthy individuals and companies that were included in the budget.
“We agree that there should be an increase in corporate tax for very large groups, but only if they can finance a reduction in the tax burden and tax redistribution for the working and middle classes,” he said.
The party is also in agreement over a proposed tax on share buybacks (rachats d’actions).
However, the RN has a number of ‘red lines’ it will oppose – and not include in its own budget.
These include “the tax on electricity, the reduction in the reimbursement of consultations and therefore the increase in mutual insurance company costs [mutuelles].”
The RN also rejects the government’s proposal to raise airline taxes, as well as a potential increase to taxes on gas.
