Finance bill: the executive wants to consolidate the accounts without breaking the recovery

Carole Ferry, edited by Gauthier Delomez 9:33 am, September 10, 2021

The French economy has regained its colors since the start of the Covid-19 epidemic.

The government confirmed Thursday its growth forecast of 6% this year, and 4% next year.

To protect this recovery, the executive gives up making savings for the last budget of the five-year Macron.

The finance bill for 2022 must be sent to the High Council of Public Finance for opinion on Friday, before it is presented to the Council of Ministers on September 22.

After the famous "whatever the cost", the Ministry of the Economy must consolidate the public accounts without breaking this recovery.

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For the moment, Bercy forecasts a public deficit at 4.8% of GDP.

It is better than expected thanks to growth, but it remains far from 3%, the European rule which was relaxed during the crisis and which must gradually become the norm again.

However, the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire does not want to go too fast.

A too rapid return to the Brussels standards would risk putting a huge brake on growth.

Bercy wants to go surely, but slowly.

Still cases to be resolved

This 2022 budget takes into account the envelopes devoted to the Beauvau of security and the announcements of Emmanuel Macron in Marseille, last week.

It also provides for a relief pot, the amount of which is yet to be determined, if new special Covid-19 emergency measures were necessary.

On the other hand, the finance bill does not take into account the cost of the investment plan, nor that of the commitment income for young people who are still in the process of arbitration. Two sensitive files whose content will not be decided by September 22. They will be added by amendment during parliamentary discussions.