France: 100 Euros "Aid" for Citizens Faces Heavy Criticism As Elections Approach
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Criticisms of the French PM statements have been mounting, with many calling for a practical decision to replace the one announced.
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French President Emmanuel Macron (AFP/Getty Images)
The statements of French Prime Minister Jean Castix about granting the citizens who earn less than 2,000 euros net per month a one-time amount of 100 euros, turned into an opportunity for the opposition to denounce the government's policy in the face of inflation and high fuel prices.
These comments all held an electoral aspect, as they came in a timeframe close to the first round of the presidential elections.
“Fortunately, the presidential election is coming,” right-wing candidate Xavier Bertrand quipped, while republican Senator Bruno Rétayo derided the measure by calling it "a debt-ridden empty cheque."
Far-right politicians and candidates have rapidly responded to the decision, with National Rally party presidential candidate, Marine Le Pen, who noted that the measure does not respond to the distress of the French to pay their bills, stating that "reducing the value-added tax on gas, electricity and fuel only will help boost the purchasing power of all families before winter."
In turn, the interim president of the National Assembly, Jordan Bardella, described the compensation as "too little, too late”, criticizing the government for its inability to understand the plight of the French people.
On the left, Socialist Party candidate Anne Hidalgo described Jean Castex's comments as improvised in a tweet, saying that they are “not up to par for the French struggling to make ends meet."
She stressed the need for a significant and temporary reduction in taxes on gasoline, recalling her desire "to reduce the value-added tax on fuel prices from 20% to 5.5% at the time of the crisis.”
According to Manuel Bombard of Rebellious France, “There was a simpler and immediate solution, which was to prevent the hike of fuel prices. The government had to bring up the issue of involving those who amassed a fortune due to this increase in price, such as Total in 2020, and distributing its dividends of 7.6 billion euro".
