Particle.news
Download on the App Store

French Government Targets January Budget Vote as It Revives Surtax on Big Firms

Ministers court a cross-party deal by reviving a corporate surtax alongside an exceptional zero‑interest loan for the wealthiest.

Overview

  • Parliamentary review restarts in the Assembly finance committee on January 8–9 with a public debate from January 13, and ministers say a final vote by the end of the month is achievable.
  • Economy Minister Roland Lescure plans to reintroduce a surtax on the profits of very large companies, a measure lifted by the Senate after being estimated up to €6 billion during earlier Assembly debates.
  • The executive is considering reviving Senator Patrick Kanner’s proposal for a five‑year, zero‑interest mandatory loan targeting roughly 20,000 of the wealthiest taxpayers as a potential compromise lever.
  • Public Accounts Minister Amélie de Montchalin and Lescure will meet all parliamentary groups except RN and LFI to seek a compromise that avoids a 49.3, with talks focused on shared ground after weeks of informal contacts.
  • Key hurdles persist as left groups press for about €10 billion in additional revenue and Les Républicains remain split between deputies and senators, while a temporary continuity law keeps the state funded at rising cost.