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Support Surges for France’s 2% Ultra‑Wealth Tax, Yet the Plan Remains Stalled

Popular backing now faces Senate resistance alongside a government reluctant to adopt the levy.

Overview

  • An Ifop poll dated September 17 reports 86% of respondents favor a 2% minimum tax on net wealth above €100 million, with strong backing across party sympathizers including Renaissance (92%) and Les Républicains (89%).
  • The proposal, designed by economist Gabriel Zucman, targets roughly 1,800 households and is presented by its author as capable of raising up to €20 billion annually toward sizable fiscal needs.
  • Legislatively, the measure passed the National Assembly in February but was rejected by the right‑leaning Senate in June, and new Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has ruled it out for the upcoming budget.
  • Zucman received prominent airtime on public broadcasters this week, a visibility that supporters say galvanized opinion and critics denounce as one‑sided promotion.
  • Debate mirrors wider European discussions, with Norway maintaining a wealth tax, the UK weighing a levy on very high assets, Switzerland heading to a referendum on large inheritances, and Spain applying a progressive solidarity tax on major fortunes.