Gabriel Attal at 8 p.m.: taxes, 4-day week, unemployment... What to remember

Gabriel Attal was the guest on TF1’s 20 Hours on Wednesday March 27. While the public deficit slipped last year, the Prime Minister spoke about the economy.

According to INSEE, the deficit for 2023 was 5.5% while the government was counting on 4.9%. The day after the publication of these figures, the interview with the Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, was particularly anticipated this Wednesday March 27, the tenant of Matignon having to take advantage of the opportunity to reveal his first arbitrations. Unsurprisingly, the head of government assured: "The objective is to get France out of debt. We now spend 50 billion euros per year to pay the interest on our debt. I would prefer to put it in schools, in the police."

While the objective of a public deficit below 3% by the end of Emmanuel Macron's five-year term, in 2027, was initially targeted, the INSEE figures did not reshuffle the cards for Gabriel Attal , which states that it should be conserved. Should the French then expect an increase in taxes, as many have feared since yesterday? “Either you increase taxes, or you ensure that there are even more people working to have additional revenue,” said the Prime Minister on this point Wednesday evening, specifying that the goal of the executive was above all “to achieve full employment”. The tenant of Matignon also affirmed that the State "will not increase taxes in the coming years for the middle classes" nor those of businesses, the latter making it possible to finance the work of the French. On the other hand, Gabriel Attal did not rule out taxing the richest and super profits more.

​​​​​​​“There will be a reform of unemployment insurance during the year,” the Prime Minister subsequently announced. Evoking several avenues, Gabriel Attal indicated that the duration of compensation could possibly be reduced. "Today, it's 18 months. One of the options is to reduce this duration by several months", estimated the tenant of Matignon, adding that it must not go below 12 months. The time one must have worked to be able to benefit from unemployment, currently six months over two years, could also be reviewed. Nevertheless, the head of government suggested that his favorite track was that of the "level of unemployment compensation" and the way in which the latter "decreases to encourage people to return to work". Gabriel Attal wishes in any case "that the parameters are presented this summer, for a reform in the fall".

If the Prime Minister also declared that he wanted to review the contribution reduction system in order to further encourage employees to increase their salary, he also returned to the famous four-day work week. Firmly opposed to a reduction in working hours, he said he was open to experimentation and “more flexibility”. For the Matignon tenant, the idea is above all to “improve working conditions”. Gabriel Attal notably gave the example of French people who cannot telework and who would like to work their week over four days rather than five, or the situation of single parents who would appreciate being able to work less during their childcare week and more when they don't have them.