Macron on TF1 labeled as "President of the rentiers" by Cécile Duflot (OXFAM France)
Take a Peek at the Sparring Session Between Cécile Duflot and Emmanuel Macron
Grab a front-row seat as Cécile Duflot, the whiz of Oxfam France, squared off against Emmanuel Macron in a live chat on May 13th, airing on TF1. The hot topic? Macron's reluctance to impose taxes on hefty inheritances.
Duflot kicked things off, questioning the transformation of Macron, once the torchbearer of labor, into the champion of the affluent landlords, quipping, "How did the blue-collar candidate become the president of the rentiers?"
With France's economy on the ropes and the government seeking to shave 40 billion euros from the 2026 budget, Duflot urged Macron to consider clamping down on the wealthiest rentiers. However, Macron wasn't sold on the idea, stating, "I don't believe that the answer lies in raising taxes, but in helping our people accumulate more wealth in their lifetime."
Duflot's heart has always belonged to the inheritance tax cause, a passion she carried over from her tenure as a housing minister under François Hollande's reign. But Macron has consistently opposed the notion, stating, "I won't tax large inheritances."
France's heritage tax is levied only when an inheritance surpasses 100,000 euros per heir, and it's regulated by the tax administration, which calculates the amount using a progressive scale, ranging from 5% to 45%. It’s only when an inheritance exceeds the said amount that the tax management steps in.
Emmanuel Macron's Soft Approach to Inheritance Taxes
Macron made it clear that hiking taxes on "extensive" fortunes, running into tens or even hundreds of millions, isn't the solution. But he didn't leave us hanging, suggesting an alternative approach: "Let's slash the inheritance tax for the most humble, whose wealth is a testament to their labor for their offspring. We need more social mobility, not more taxes. Let's earn through work."
Macron's stance on the inheritance tax conundrum of "fortune vs labor" has been unclear, with detractors claiming he favors inherited wealth over earned income. However, during his 2022 campaign, Macron criticized unearned income, but later announced plans to lower taxes on smaller transfers, hinting at a possible softening of his stance on inheritance taxation for the lower classes.
Aside from the inheritance tax, various perspectives revolve around the debate, including succession and patrimony, making for a complex and intriguing issue concerning Emmanuel Macron's policies.
Discussing the inheritance tax policy, Cécile Duflot criticized Emmanuel Macron's stance, suggesting that he seems more inclined towards the affluent real estate owners rather than supporting the labor class. In response, Macron proposed a different approach, advocating for lowering inheritance taxes for the less privileged, emphasizing the importance of social mobility and earned income over increased taxes. This stance on inheritance taxation and its impact on both labor and real estate remains a contentious topic in the realm of policy-and-legislation and general-news.
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