Tax increases will “kill growth”, fears Darmanin, who proposes to make the French “work more”

Gérald Darmanin a critiqué les hausses d’impôts voulues par le gouvernement. MAXPPP – Vincent Isore

Elimination of a second public holiday, end of the 35-hour week… Gérald Darmanin put forward on Sunday avenues for savings with the aim of making the French "work more", criticizing the tax increases wanted by the government, which will "kill growth", according to the former minister.

"A fiscal shock does not make an economic policy. And this path risks killing growth and creating mass unemployment", warns the former Minister of Public Accounts and the Interior in an interview with the daily newspaper Les Echos. “When you take the tax slide, everyone ends up being affected”, he continues.

As Prime Minister Michel Barnier's presentation of the draft budget approaches on Thursday, the Nord MP is continuing his campaign of opposition to the temporary and targeted tax increases that the government is planning.

“It is paradoxical that a Prime Minister from the LR would have as his first measure the sharp increase in corporate and capital taxes. We're losing our Latin", Mr. Darmanin gets annoyed, estimating that "the issue in France is that we don't work enough".

"The right answer" would therefore be“work more”, continues the deputy Ensemble pour la République, announcing in passing that Michel Barnier will attend the EPR group meeting in the Assembly on Tuesday.

Several levers for savings proposed

Gérald Darmanin then proposes several levers for savings: a reform of public broadcasting, “the elimination of a second public holiday in both the public and private sectors”, the transition to “36 or 37 hours" of weekly work in the public sector, or even increasing registration fees for foreign students.

"Another option is to introduce a second waiting day for sick leave in the public sector", suggests the Tourcoing MP, who wants to "put a definitive end to the 35 hours".

Although a member of the "common core" on which Michel Barnier intends to rely in the National Assembly, Gérald Darmanin also announces that he will not “vote” for the part dedicated to revenue in the draft finance bill for 2025, if it remains as it is. “On the other hand, I could vote for savings in public spending”, he specifies.