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Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Budget 2025: Marylise Léon Critiques Bernard Arnault’s “Indecent” Response

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Political leaders are expressing cautious optimism regarding the 2025 budget proposal, emphasizing the need for shared responsibility amidst ongoing budgetary challenges. CFDT Secretary General Marylise Léon criticizes the focus on burden-shifting by political figures while highlighting the need for equitable measures, particularly concerning corporate taxes. CGT Secretary General Sophie Binet and Medef President Patrick Martin also voice concerns over the budget’s impact on businesses, with both sides agreeing it falls short of addressing the pressing financial issues.

Progress Amidst Budgetary Challenges

Are we inching closer to a solution for the current crisis? Recent comments from political figures, including Jordan Bardella from the National Rally (RN) and representatives from the Socialist Party, suggest that the 2025 budget proposal spearheaded by François Bayrou should not face censorship. This development was met with approval by CFDT Secretary General, Marylise Léon, who expressed her contentment on Tuesday morning, highlighting the importance of political continuity in overcoming the current deadlock.

Calls for Shared Responsibility

During her appearance on Franceinfo, Léon remarked, “Since the onset of the dissolution, there has been a universal call for responsibility, yet it appears everyone is pushing the responsibility onto others.” Nevertheless, she expressed concern that the Prime Minister’s document still includes “stringent and challenging measures, particularly the reduction of sick leave compensation” for civil servants. Léon proposed a more equitable distribution of efforts, referencing LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault’s recent critique of increased corporate taxes. The billionaire argued, “To see a potential 40% rise in corporate taxes for companies operating in France is astonishing. This is bound to encourage relocation!” Léon deemed such comments “indecent given the current budgetary landscape.”

She underscored that business leaders seem to forget the substantial support provided to companies during the pandemic, stating, “When it comes to sharing these burdens and one is unaccustomed to it, yes, it elicits a peculiar reaction.” While Léon acknowledged Arnault’s contributions to French society, she questioned the implications of such statements, insisting that shared responsibilities are essential, especially as the budget is set to be passed under extraordinary circumstances.

Last week, CGT Secretary General Sophie Binet also criticized the behavior of corporate leaders, labeling their responses as “indecent.” She sharply noted, “The rats are abandoning the ship.” Conversely, Patrick Martin, president of Medef, called Binet’s remarks “excessive and misplaced,” especially concerning Arnault and the LVMH group, which he pointed out contributes over 2.5 billion euros in taxes annually and employs around 200,000 individuals in France at salaries that exceed the national average. He also emphasized that “French companies face the highest tax rates globally.”

Despite their shared criticism of the budget presented by François Bayrou, both Binet and Léon, alongside Martin, deemed it “unsatisfactory.” Martin expressed particular disappointment over the “13 billion euros in additional burdens placed on French businesses,” although he recognized that “the budget was created in haste.” He lamented that “public spending will continue to rise, with companies bearing the brunt of these adjustments.”

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