For the government, there is no question of changing course. Its policy will therefore remain the same as that pursued since 2017: a business-friendly policy. “Since 2017, I think it’s new, we have been leading a pro-business policy, because we are convinced that it’s good for our country and good for its employees,” said Elisabeth Borne, Monday, August 28, at the start of the school year. from Medef.
“I assure you that we will continue,” she continued. “There will be no tax increases” for businesses. The one who defended a supply policy that “works” was more warmly applauded by the bosses gathered at the Longchamp racecourse than last year, when she called for energy sobriety.
A few minutes earlier, it was Emmanuel Macron, in a video message addressed to employers, who called for “unity” to win the battles for jobs and growth. “I need you,” he called out.
The Prime Minister was quickly arrested by Patrick Martin, the boss of Medef. Arguing that a “further staggering of the abolition of the CVAE (Corporate Value Added Contribution, editor’s note) would be a very bad signal”, he believes it is necessary for companies to invest massively in decarbonisation and to stand up to global competition.
“All of the CVAE will be abolished before the end of the five-year term and we will do it at the fastest possible pace,” replied Élisabeth Borne, confirming recent remarks by her Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire. But this production tax, which still brings four billion euros a year to the State, will only be abolished according to a timetable that takes into account “the need to maintain our trajectory of control of our public finances”, he said. -she adds. “Today we have a macroeconomic context that is more uncertain than we could have expected,” she argued, before calling on “everyone” to “take their part” in controlling public accounts.
The Prime Minister observed that “the two extremes”, implied the LFI and the National Rally, “do not trust entrepreneurs, want to burden you with taxes and constraints”. “We trust you,” she told the audience. However, she called on the bosses that “our fellow citizens also feel the benefits” of the good macroeconomic results.
“Statistics are good, concrete results are even better”, added Élisabeth Borne, encouraging companies to “listen to society, to the expectations or frustrations of employees”, particularly in terms of remuneration .
In addition to tax issues, Patrick Martin praised in his speech the autonomous social dialogue between trade unions and employers and read an extract from a letter from Pope Francis, in which the sovereign pontiff describes entrepreneurs as “essential actors of prosperity and public happiness”. The Pope thus regularly addresses Italian employers, according to a Vatican specialist, but this was a first for the Medef.
While waiting for the government’s arbitrations for the 2024 budget at the end of September, the 150 speakers announced will debate at the REF various subjects: energy transition, future of transport, role of the State in the economy, but also women’s rights, education system , artificial intelligence and even the future of religions.
Despite shocks and crises, “for entrepreneurs, tomorrow never dies”, according to the title of the 2023 edition of REF inspired by that of a James Bond opus. Over the two days of the event, just over 10,000 people are expected by the organizers.