Purchasing power: what measures is the government considering?

Jacques Serais 2:08 p.m., July 05, 2022

Emmanuel Macron brought together the entire government at the Elysée on Tuesday morning to finalize the executive's strategy to act on purchasing power.

Several measures are on the table.

First of all, there is the revaluation of social benefits: retirement and disability pensions, solidarity allowance for the elderly, family benefits, the RSA or the disabled adult allowance.  

Allow 50% promos

The bill provides for each of these aids an increase of 4%.

The government is also working on setting up a housing shield.

The rise in rental prices could not exceed 3.5%.

The APL would be increased in the same proportion.

The Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire also submitted the idea of ​​​​authorizing more promotions in the food sector and of again allowing 50% promotions, the famous "one bought, one offered", so that today hypermarkets and supermarkets cannot exceed 34% discounts.

The introduction of a mileage allowance 

Finally, in view of the rise in energy prices, this bill includes the extension of the discount of 18 euro cents per liter of petrol.

Will this extension be fixed until the end of August or until the end of the year?

This is one of the points to be decided when it is also a question of setting up a mileage allowance for those who use their car to go to work.

This sequence is also a first test for the presidential camp which can no longer count on an absolute majority in the Assembly.

We will have to find compromises.

This text must arrive on July 18 at the Assembly, in two weeks.

And the oppositions are already making known their proposals or rather their conditions to support this bill.

The Republicans sent a letter to the Prime Minister to tell her that they considered it essential to lower fuel taxes to guarantee a maximum price of 1.50 euros per litre.

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The government will have to deal with the opposition

The LRs also want a drop in charges to revalue work and the cancellation of the increase in the CSG for all retirees.

Three measures without which they threaten not to pass this bill.

Meanwhile, the left-wing alliance is preparing to resume measures from Jean-Luc Mélenchon's presidential program such as the blocking of prices and the increase of the minimum wage to 1,500 euros net.

When the National Rally pleads for a reduction in VAT on fuels and on several basic necessities.

Without an absolute majority, it is far from being won for the government.

For Elisabeth Borne and her ministers, we will have to deal with these oppositions.

This is the new order of the Assembly...