Paris (AFP)

Elimination of charges for SMEs, aid in the recruitment of young people, sovereign funds ... anxious to occupy the economic field, The Republicans unveiled their recovery plan on Tuesday to boost activity after the coronavirus crisis.

"It is the return of the Republicans to the economic and social field" summed up the president of the LR group to the Assembly, Damien Abad, by presenting this plan quantified at 10% of the GDP, that is to say 250 billion euros, and whose several measures will be the subject of legislative proposals.

"You have to go fast," said LR boss Christian Jacob, because "for businesses it is essential to have readability. Delaying on the recovery plan or dicing it is not a good thing".

The Republicans advocate in particular a cancellation of contributions and taxes for small businesses financially squeezed by the health crisis, a drop in VAT to 5.5% for hotels and restaurants, and the gradual transformation of part-time unemployment into relief of charges.

These three points will be the subject of legislative proposals during the "parliamentary niche" reserved for LR on June 11, as will the establishment of a "zero charges" system for two years for the hiring of young people on permanent contracts. .

In their recovery plan, the Republicans also refer to the assumption by the State of "the first six months' wages of young people hired".

"A few years ago we would have proposed other devices for young people, probably less reassuring," noted the secretary general of the party Aurélien Pradié, in a veiled allusion to the First Hiring Contract which in 2006 planned to increase the trial period for young people.

"Both of us are also capable of learning from the past," he added, assuring that "we have not thawed old measures, we have been on fairly new ground".

On food as well, their plan proposes to "reduce VAT on 1,000 basic food products" and to introduce "100% French products in collective catering".

This program "draws on what we experienced during the crisis" assured the Vice-President of the National Assembly Annie Genevard, hoping that it would close the debate "between supporters of budgetary orthodoxy and those who a more social approach. "

On the participation, LR wants to make profit "all the employees" with an objective of "10% of the remuneration" and by launching "a real shock of tax exemption". The idea is also to extend the system to the public sector and to businesses in the "new economy".

"Our role is to challenge the macronie on the economic and social plan", assured Mr. Abad for whom "we are in our role of force of proposal".

Other tracks are more awaited. Thus on working time, LR pleads again to facilitate annualization by opening negotiations within companies, which would also increase wages.

"It is through work that we will be able to straighten our country," insisted the number 2 of the Guillaume Peltier party for whom "there is no emancipation if the value of work does not become again the central value".

Finally LR pleads to "restore our strategic sovereignty" with a "French sovereign fund" managing "up to 300 billion euros".

© 2020 AFP