April 27, 2019

Andrew Campbell

President Emmanuel Macron pledged to cut taxes, decentralize France’s administration, and no more schools or hospitals being closed without the backing of the local mayor in a new round of reforms on April 25. In a two-and-a-half hour speech and news conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Macron said he understood the “profound sense of fiscal, social and provincial injustice” reflected in the protests but believed his liberalizing reforms of the past two years “should not just be preserved but pursued and intensified”.

Almost two years into his five-year term in the presidency, and following a national listening tour, the prime-time event was Macron's attempt aimed at responding to quell nearly six months of violent gilets jaunes movement or “yellow vest” protests that have brought weekly unrest to the country and have shaken the government.

Statistics from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development reported France's 'tax-take' is equivalent to 54 percent of the gross domestic product, making France the world's most highly taxed country. While providing few details on his policy proposals, Macron wanted a significant cut in income taxes, saying it would be worth around 5 billion euros, financed by closing loopholes for some companies.

Along with the tax relief, Macron wanted to abolish the Ecole Nationale d'Administration, the elite school that trains France's corporate and political leaders, saying new ways needed to recruit top-class civil servants. He also said changes resulting from his reform drive would come within a year, a new way to decentralize government and prevent the closing of any more schools or hospitals.

Photo:Webshot.