"The state will pay," announced during his second speech related to the coronavirus the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron. A month later, the deputies voted on the night of Friday to Saturday a massive plan, called "crisis budget", to the tune of 110 billion euros. A colossal sum, which risks having heavy impacts on the deficit, but necessary to come to the aid of the French economy. Because the recession awaits: "It is almost three times higher than that of 2009", affirmed on our antenna the president of the finance commission of the National assembly Eric Woerth.
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A premium for carers, extended partial unemployment
The text of the law finances the exceptional premium of 500 to 1,500 euros intended for carers, applauded by the French every night since the start of confinement. It includes aid for the most modest households (recipients of social minima) of 150 euros, plus 100 euros per child, announced by the executive on Wednesday.
The National Assembly has also extended partial unemployment to certain categories. This new budget brings in particular to 24 billion euros the credits allocated to the system, a third of which is covered by Unedic. "Nearly nine million workers today are on short-time work", which should avoid "mass layoffs," said Bruno Le Maire.
Support for small and medium-sized businesses
Firms that have stopped or are in difficulty are also supported by this plan. An increase to seven billion euros is made from the solidarity fund for very small businesses and the self-employed. This bill includes a "repayable advance" for SMEs that do not get a loan, as well as a support fund for medium-sized businesses of one billion euros.
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20 billion create discord
In total, 90 billion are allocated. Remains 20 billion, which will be used to recapitalize large companies like Air France, whose nationalization is a track in "last resort", or PSA. On paper, this is not a bad idea, says deputy Matthieu Orphelin, a former member of the majority, except that the state demands no compensation from these companies. "It's a kind of blank check," he denounced at the microphone of Europe 1.
"There is no guarantee that these companies will make firm commitments", he regrets, arguing for example that the State could have forced Air France to gradually stop domestic flights on routes where a TGV exists. "I simply believe that the government did not want to ask for compensation from large companies," continues Matthieu Orphelin.
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"The voting conditions in the Assembly are very degraded"
"The government says to itself 'today we save businesses, tomorrow we will transform them', this is a real economic, political and ecological error (...) Our businesses must finally commit to the ecological transition and united, "he concludes.
Some opposition MPs also criticize the majority for having passed this measure on the sly. With confinement that has a heavy impact on working conditions at the Palais Bourbon, "the voting conditions in the Assembly are very degraded", confides behind the scenes a deputy. But despite these oppositions, the text was the subject of a large majority (528 against 19) since only the Insoumis deputies, the non-attached deputy José Evrard and the Liberals and territories deputy Jean Lassalle voted against the bill .