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3mo ago

Proposed Retiree Tax for Social Security Funding Faces Broad Backlash in France

The French labor minister’s suggestion to tax wealthier retirees has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum and even from government allies.

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«Taxer des retraités qui ont 2000 euros de retraite, c’est totalement scandaleux» s'insurge Sébastien Chenu
François Bayrou et la ministre du Travail et de l’Emploi, Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet, à Paris, le 17 janvier 2025.
Pour Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet, c’est une proposition «qu’il faut regarder et dont il faut discuter avec les parlementaires».

Overview

  • Labor Minister Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet proposed targeting the top 40% of retirees, based on pension levels, to help address the Social Security deficit.
  • The proposal has been labeled a 'personal position' by the government, which has not officially endorsed it at this stage.
  • Critics from both the far right and far left, including RN’s Sébastien Chenu and LFI’s Manuel Bompard, condemned the idea as unfair and harmful to retirees earning modest pensions.
  • Government allies, such as Christian Estrosi and other centrist figures, also expressed strong opposition, fearing it could lead to broader taxation of retirees over time.
  • Support for the proposal has been limited, with the head of the Medef cautiously backing it as a temporary and targeted measure to address deficits.