Immigration and taxes dominate Prime Minister Barnier’s policy speech
Mr Barnier also announced a rise to the minimum wage. We look at the key points
In his 50-minute-long speech, Prime Minister Michel Barnier made overtures to MPs on both the left and right
Victor Velter / Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock
French Prime Minister Michel Barnier gave a major policy address to parliament today with immigration, taxes, the cost of living and societal issues dominating his 50-minute speech.
The cost of living, some tax rises and an increase to the minimum wage were also referred to.
New French prime ministers traditionally give a speech at the start of their mandate to outline their political direction, however for Mr Barnier the context is exceptional.
As he started to speak at 15:30, striking teachers, railway workers and students marched through Paris calling for him to repeal the 2023 pension reforms, improve public sector salaries and give more funding for schools.
His government is under pressure on several fronts, from both the left wing Nouveau Front Populaire - the largest party in parliament - and the far-right Rassemblement National.
Read more: Why far right support is key to whether Michel Barnier stays as French PM
However he is also under the pressure of time, with only several weeks to present his 2025 budget to parliament.
It comes amid controversy over recent statements by his interior minister, who called for a controversial referendum on immigration, angering both traditionalist conservatives and the left.
What the prime minister said
Mr Barnier took pains to appeal - at least superficially - for support from both left and right-wing MPs, with certain overtures to both sides in his 50-minute-long speech.
In terms of societal measures, he announced:
A 2% increase in the minimum wage (known as the Smic, which currently sits at €1,766.92 gross per month and would rise to €1,802.25) from November 1, 2024
The need for a debate on the retirement age, suggesting that “certain aspects of the [pension reform] law can be improved”
A plan to ease the expulsion of people who are in France illegally subject to an order to leave France (Obligation de quitter le territoire français, OQTF)
The need to invest in France’s prisons
A need to reduce social security fraud, especially around use of Carte vitale
An increased police presence on the streets
That mental health would be a central theme of his government
A plan to cut medical deserts via the creation of 15,000 new positions for medical interns (up from 8,500 in 2024)
A plan to make teaching “more attractive” and ease the return of retired teachers to schools
A “Zero net artificialisation” scheme to cut the area of natural spaces used for new industry and farms by 50% by 2031 and to 0% by 2050
Support for ”healthy, varied and high quality” food
“Rapid action” to improve access to property, including plans to simplify “as far as possible” the rules and standards that slow the construction of new homes
No plan for changes to abortion rights or gay marriage, adding that “there can be no tolerance of racism and anti-Semitism” in France
A plan to reform unemployment benefits will be negotiated “in the coming weeks with social partners and unions”
For the 2025 budget, he announced that he aims to reduce the country's deficit to 5% of GDP, which will fall to 3% in 2029.
To this end, he announced:
“An exceptional effort” and “targeted taxes” to help drag France out of its spiral of deficit after five years of tax reductions, which were exacerbated by the government’s spending during the Covid-19 pandemic
That he believes in sharing the tax burden but that wealthy people will have to pay more
That “large companies making significant profits” will have to pay their share
“Our aim is to ensure that all French people affected by the high cost of living see an improvement in their standard of living from next year”, he said.
Speaking after the prime minister, Marine Le Pen, the parliamentary leader of the far-right Rassemblement National confirmed that she would not support a motion of no confidence in Mr Barnier’s government.
However, she said her party would not tolerate half measures from the new government, and called continued “immigration laxism” a “red line”. She also called for stricter immigration laws to be 'put back on the agenda' by the new government by early 2025.
