In the midst of a debate on the "superprofits" of large companies, like TotalEnergies, the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire said on Friday that he was "proud" of their results, again refusing to tax them on these exceptional profits. .

“I am proud of the results of our tricolor companies and surprised to see how much we overwhelm today with all the ills of French companies which show good results”, commented the number two of the government at the exit of the Council of Ministers. .

"Good results for French companies are good results for our compatriots, it means job creation, the opening of factories, the possibility of investing, of innovating", estimated the minister.

An effort for the banking sector

Bruno Le Maire was speaking a few hours after the publication of the results of Engie, which like TotalEnergies generated profits in the second quarter more than doubled compared to the spring of 2021. TotalEnergies also told AFP that it had not "paid tax on corporations in France in 2021 because the sum of its activities generated a tax loss result".

“When our companies are doing well, I'm delighted.

Does that mean that they should exempt themselves from any contribution to the national effort?

Certainly not, ”continued Bruno Le Maire, suggesting gestures to the banks.

After welcoming the discount at the pump put in place by TotalEnergies, or the “cheques” offered by Engie, the minister stressed that large companies could “contribute in other sectors of activity”.

“I am thinking, for example, of the banking sector.

On bank charges, I think the sector can certainly do more in this area,” he explained.

“A tax is money in the pockets of the state”

“These are very direct contributions.

A tax is money in the pockets of the state, not in the pockets of the French.

When inflation is over 6% (6.1% over one year in July according to a first estimate by INSEE, editor's note), the money we want it right away, ”argued the boss of Bercy.

"Companies can and must contribute in other ways" than via taxes to the fight against inflation, "by direct support for the purchasing power of the French, but also by remuneration", concluded the minister.

Asked by AFP, the French Banking Federation stressed in a press release that “the subject of pricing (was) a competitive subject, supervised and controlled by the authorities”.

Several years ago, however, the banks "made commitments to cap the costs of banking incidents for people who choose the so-called "fragile clientele" offer as well as for people identified as financially fragile, even if they did not wish to subscribe to the “dedicated” offer, continued the FBF.

“They will continue to work with the various stakeholders to find the best solutions to meet today's challenges and the needs of their customers,” the banks concluded.

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  • Engie