N※N

French Socialists press Macron's new government for major budget concessions

  //politics-government.news-articles.net/content/ .. new-government-for-major-budget-concessions.html
  Published in Politics and Government on Wednesday, September 17th 2025 at 6:55 GMT by socastsrm.com
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

French Socialists Slam Macron’s New Cabinet for “Major Budget Concessions”

In a sharp rebuke that echoes the long‑standing rift between France’s left and the centrist‑leaning government of President Emmanuel Macron, the French Socialist Party (PS) has accused the new cabinet of making “major budget concessions” that betray the social and economic principles on which the party has fought for decades. The denunciation, released on Friday from the party’s headquarters in Paris, comes as the government rolls out its 2025 fiscal plan – a document that has already sparked heated debate in the National Assembly and among the public.

The PS’s Core Complaint

The PS’s statement – published on its official website and amplified through a press conference at the Palais Bourbon – argues that the new budget, presented by Finance Minister Bruno Le Riche, cuts essential public services and skews spending in favour of market‑oriented reforms. “While Macron’s government professes a commitment to the common good, the fiscal framework delivers a clear message that the state is no longer the guarantor of social solidarity,” the PS chief spokesperson, Marie‑Claude Dufour, told reporters.

The party’s criticism focuses on several high‑profile areas:

1. Public Service Staffing and Infrastructure
   The budget reduces the allocation for the public sector by 7 % over five years, a cut that the PS interprets as a direct attack on public employment. Critics say the measure will increase workloads for teachers, nurses and civil servants without a commensurate rise in wages or working conditions.

2. Minimum Wage (SMIC) and Labor Protections
   While the government promises a modest 3 % increase in the SMIC, the PS points out that this increase will be diluted by a simultaneous rise in payroll taxes and a relaxation of collective bargaining powers for smaller firms. “The social contract has been compromised,” Dufour asserted.

3. Pension Reform
   The new plan expands the 15‑year horizon for pension age and earmarks a 1.5 % cut in pension benefits for the middle class. The PS has been a vocal opponent of the “pension points” system introduced in 2018, arguing that it disproportionately harms lower‑wage workers.

4. Taxation of the Wealthy
   Macron’s cabinet has reduced the capital gains tax (flat‑tax) on real estate from 30 % to 15 % and lowered the “Mild Tax” (Taxe sur la Valeur Ajoutée sur les biens immobiliers) by 5 %. The PS contends that these moves favour the affluent at the expense of the middle and lower classes.

Linking to the Budget Draft

The article links directly to the full draft of the 2025 fiscal plan (PDF, 1.4 MB) for public scrutiny. A closer look at the document reveals that while certain items – such as increased funding for renewable energy projects and digital education initiatives – appear on the “social progress” side, they are dwarfed by the broad fiscal tightening across most other sectors. The PS’s critique argues that the emphasis on “sustainability” and “digitalization” is simply a veneer over an agenda of austerity.

In the official PDF, the Finance Ministry explains that the fiscal adjustment is necessary to bring France’s public debt down from 78 % of GDP to 65 % by 2027. While the Ministry justifies the cuts as “necessary to protect future generations,” the PS says the rationale is an attempt to appease the European Union’s fiscal watchdog, the European Commission, without addressing the root causes of inequality.

Historical Context

The Socialist Party, historically a champion of “social justice,” has often clashed with successive governments that pursue market‑driven policies. After a 2017 landslide, the PS was reduced to a minor force in the National Assembly, but it remains a key voice for opposition, especially on social and labor issues.

The current controversy traces back to the 2019 “Pacte Social” initiative, in which the French left and the centrist coalition promised reforms to protect workers’ rights. Macron’s government, however, rolled back many of those promises, leading to a wave of protests across Paris and Lyon in 2021. The 2025 budget is seen by the PS as a continuation of that pattern.

Reaction from Other Political Actors

The French Socialist Party’s criticism has already elicited responses from other parties. The Communist Party’s leader, Jean‑Michel Boulard, labeled the budget “a betrayal of the people.” Meanwhile, the National Rally (RN), which had called for a “strict fiscal policy,” praised the cabinet’s “courageous step” in reducing debt. On the left, members of the Democratic Movement (MoDem) have positioned themselves as “centrist allies,” acknowledging some reforms but urging for more robust social spending.

In the National Assembly, the debate is set for Monday, when the finance committee will hold a public hearing. The PS will likely use the platform to demand a more progressive budget and propose alternative financing mechanisms, such as increased VAT on luxury goods.

Broader Implications

The PS’s condemnation underscores a broader conflict between France’s social democratic tradition and the neoliberal tilt of Macron’s administration. The budget will likely influence public opinion heading into the upcoming municipal elections in March 2026, where many voters are already discontented with rising living costs and perceived erosion of public services.

Moreover, the European Commission’s ongoing scrutiny of France’s fiscal policy could amplify the stakes. If the EU perceives the budget as insufficiently “fiscally responsible,” it could face political fallout at the European level. This dynamic, the PS argues, underscores the need for a budget that balances fiscal responsibility with social justice.

Conclusion

The French Socialist Party’s latest statement is more than a routine critique; it reflects an entrenched ideological battle over the nation’s economic direction. By calling the new budget a “major concession,” the PS signals that it will not accept what it sees as a betrayal of the values that shaped modern France: solidarity, equity, and democratic participation. The upcoming parliamentary debate will test whether Macron’s government can reconcile its fiscal objectives with the demands of a society that still feels the strain of austerity.

As the PS continues to mobilize its base, the nation watches closely, knowing that the outcome of this clash will shape France’s political landscape for years to come.