"A new method" to "raise a lot of misunderstandings": Emmanuel Macron has engaged in an unprecedented exercise since the beginning of his quinquennium, Thursday. For nearly two hours and a half, the head of state answered the questions of journalists gathered at the Elysee Palace, as a closing of the "big debate". On form, the president said he regretted giving "the feeling" of being "hard" and "sometimes unfair". Basically, he delivered a list of announcements mainly related to taxation and pensions. Here are the main ones.
>>> ESSENTIAL - Relive Emmanuel Macron's press conference
A "significant" drop in income tax
Emmanuel Macron has stated his intention to reduce "significantly" the income tax, up to 5 billion euros. "It seems to me that the best way to meet the needs of tax justice is not to raise taxes, but rather to lower taxes for a maximum of our fellow citizens, especially those who work. ", he said, referring specifically to the middle classes.
The head of state also defended the abolition of the solidarity tax on wealth (ISF) from the beginning of his quinquennium, a measure often criticized during the great debate and during the demonstrations of "yellow vests".
"Work more" by extending the contribution period
In order to finance the tax cut, Emmanuel Macron confirmed he wanted to eliminate "some tax loopholes for companies", while affirming "the need to work more" and "reductions in our public spending", he added . The President of the Republic specified that he did not plan to delete an additional public holiday to finance this tax reduction. He also added that he did not intend to go back on the legal retirement age, preferring the track leading to the extension of the contribution period.
A reindexing of pensions
The President of the Republic announced that pensions "less than 2,000 euros" will be reindexed on inflation in 2020, measure expected, but also that no pension will increase less quickly than prices from 2021. Emmanuel Macron he also wished that the "minimum pension" for a complete career be raised to 1,000 euros, an amount according to him "significantly higher" to the minimum old age that he promised to raise to 900 euros next year.
No "RIC" but a "RIP" softened
Emmanuel Macron pleaded to facilitate the implementation of a referendum on the initiative of the people, proposing to reduce to 1 million the number of signatures necessary to seize the Parliament. This measure would be included in the constitutional reform that the Head of State wants to see back to Parliament "in the summer". But he also dismissed the "citizens' initiative referendum" wanted by "yellow vests".
As part of the institutional reform, Emmanuel Macron also said he was in favor of introducing a dose of 20% proportional to the Assembly. He also wanted to "increase" this dose in the Senate. As for the reduction in the number of parliamentarians, Emmanuel Macron said he was ready to reduce his commitment by 30% to 25%.
A "new act of decentralization" within a year
The president announced "a new act of decentralization" in the territories, which will culminate in "the first quarter of 2020". This new decentralization must be "adapted to each territory" and be "on the politics of everyday life" as "housing, transport, ecological transition to guarantee decisions taken closer to the field", he said. added.
A reorganization of the administration
Confirming his intention to "abolish the ENA", Emmanuel Macron announced that he wanted to end the systems of the "big corps" of the senior civil service, whose members are currently "guarantee of protection for life" . At the same time, Édouard Philippe will present in May "a deep reform of the administration" intended to deploy "more officials on the ground", while suppressing positions "in central administration".
Deploring that there is "not enough people on the ground" to "provide solutions", the head of state has announced the creation in "each canton", by "the end of the quinquennium ", from a" place where we can find a solution to the problems ", called" France services ". In this context, the president said he was ready to "give up" the goal of 120,000 cuts in government posts that he had set "if it is not tenable", asking the government to "give his analysis of 'here summer'.
No hospitals or schools closed
Emmanuel Macron wished "to no longer have by the end of the five-year period new closures, no hospitals, no schools without the mayor's approval". "That does not mean that there will be no reorganizations, they are sometimes indispensable, that means that there will be no more disappearances, as we have lived too much," he said. highlighted.
24 students per class maximum
Emmanuel Macron confirmed his wish that the classes of large section of kindergarten, CP and CE1 "never exceed 24 pupils" by class, defending an "investment in our children in which (he) believes deeply". The Head of State also wants to "expand the division of classes (CP and CE1), which works, and already has very good results in disadvantaged neighborhoods, (...) the large section of kindergarten."
A gesture for single mothers and caregivers
Emmanuel Macron wanted the family allowance funds (CAF) to have the "prerogative to collect family support" and thus help single-parent families. "These famous single-parent families are often mothers living alone," said the President of the Republic, saying that "we can not rely on mothers incivility of their former spouses."
The Head of State also mentioned the case of family carers. "We must recognize them, name them, but also in our public policies to build them a place during the pension reform and build rights for them," he said.
An "ecological defense council"
Emmanuel Macron wanted to set up an "ecological defense council" that will bring together the dedicated ministers to make the "strategic choices" imposed by the "climate emergency".