The National Assembly has finished its first major legislation for Macron’s second five-year term. The “law of emergency measures for the protection of purchasing power” was adopted in first reading at the Palais Bourbon.
The text of the law gave the executive’s guidelines on its first projects, from purchasing power to the energy crisis.
Tripled bonuses but no salary increase
Main measure and main stumbling block with the left-wing opposition: the tripling of the ceiling of the “Macron bonus”. This system implemented during the previous five years and paid for by the companies, without restriction. If the ceiling increases, the amount paid is at the individual discretion of the companies: until now, it was around 500 euros, or half of the ceiling.
The executive voted for the sustainability of the bond, in two aspects. A first payment can be made before December 31 for a maximum value of 3,000 euros, compared to 1,000 until now: it will be for employees who earn less than three times the minimum wage and will be exempt from taxes. Companies that have signed a profit sharing agreement will be able to raise up to 6,000 euros.
The same maximum limits for the second part, the so-called “shared value” bonus, which will become annual from 2023. This will be subject to income tax and may affect all employees.
The Government remains firm in its position: to fight against the deterioration of the purchasing power of employees, it wants to give companies a hand. Even if it means rejecting any increase in wages, as proposed by an amendment by France Insoumise, the left-wing group demanded a minimum wage raised to 1,500 euros, without success.
AAH, rents and APL
On the other hand, the hemicycle almost unanimously agreed to the spousal of the Disabled Adult Allowance (AAH), which is supposed to strengthen the income of people with disabilities. The payment of this aid will no longer be conditional on the income of the spouse.
The majority put pressure on him after the reform became a proposal from candidate Macron; under his previous mandate, the opposition had repeatedly called for the measure, always rejected by the LREM.
Only one deputy, of the 429 who cast their votes, sounded different, advocating a more comprehensive reform and denouncing a betrayal of often familiar “French solidarity”.
Another element that involves releasing purchasing power, the control of the rise in income, which cannot exceed 3.5% in 2023 (2.5% in Overseas, and 1.5% in Corsica and in the rural revitalization area ), through a limitation of the income reference index (IRL). The left pressed for rent freezes, but to no avail.
Lastly, certain social benefits have been updated: this is the case of the APL, boosted by 3.5% in an attempt to partly follow inflation, and retirement pensions, improved by 4% without waiting for the year, as candidate Macron had promised. .
Coal and shale gas power plants
During the night from Thursday to Friday, the deputies debated the final part of the text, referring to energy independence. Article 14 launches the construction of a floating gas terminal off Le Havre, intended to increase France’s capacity to import foreign gas, thus offsetting future restrictions on Russian supplies.
A measure approved by the majority but criticized by all the main opposition groups. The left has especially criticized the government for wanting to increase deliveries of US shale gas, exploited under disastrous ecological conditions.
Second point of friction on the subject, article 15, last text voted on at night. It provides for the reopening of the Saint-Avold (Moselle) coal-fired power plant, to meet the country’s energy needs.
Accused of supporting a climate control project, the executive defended the idea that this represented only 1% of national electricity production, and that emissions would be offset. Without convincing the NUPES, but pocketing the support of 50 RN deputies. He signaled, again, possible future compromises in the lower house.
Now he must address the reform of the finance law for the 2022 budget (which will include fuel discounts and the doubling of the transportation premium), when the Senate seizes this first version of the purchasing power law.
Source: BFM TV
