PS Senator will defend the amendment targeting the richest taxpayers, Sébastien Lecornu does not oppose it

With this amendment to the Finance Bill, the PS senators want to create forced lending, based on the model implemented in 1983 by Pierre Mauroy. Expected proceeds are 6 billion euros.

After the rejection of Zucman’s tax and its variants in the National Assembly at the end of October, socialist senators did not abandon the idea of ​​taxing France’s richest people. While the 2026 budget is under review starting Thursday, November 27 in the Senate, a group chaired by Patrick Kanner has proposed amendments aimed at taxing top earners in some way. Senators have until 6 p.m. Tuesday to table this amendment before it is considered in public session.

According to information from France Télévisions, the Prime Minister is not against it. These amendments could serve as the basis for future negotiations between the government and the socialists with a view to adopting a budget, while the first section, devoted to revenue, was almost unanimously rejected in the National Assembly on the night of Friday to Saturday.

In detail, “This is a matter of applying for a loan. Like the so-called ‘Mauroy’ loan proposed in 1983, it is proposed that subscription to this loan be made mandatory for our most able citizens”written in the statement explaining these changes. In the initial version, this involved taxpayers being subject to several taxes that targeted the highest income and highest assets. “Loans must be provided for a period of five years, with a gross actuarial rate of 0% per year”it is determined.

According to sources close to the matter at France Télévisions, the expected result of these “forced loans” is around 6 billion euros, an amount close to the target of the socialists with the “light” Zucman tax, at the end of October, namely between 5 and 7 billion euros. “It’s a smart compromise.”estimate the source on the left.

This amendment is actually not a surprise for the government. “In the Senate, there will be amendments that only serve to create something, to be discussed again in the Assembly. Otherwise, with the funnel principle, it is impossible”anticipating ministerial sources at France Télévisions in mid-November. Of course, “before each assembly, debate was limited, as successive readings of the text progressed, to points of disagreement, while articles adopted in the same terms were excluded from the shuttle space”that is specified in Senate rules.

If the government does not fundamentally oppose this measure, it remains to be seen how other parliamentary groups in the Senate, whose majority are on the right and center, will take a stance on this measure. The mechanism is also assessed “quite confiscating” by an influential senator.