While inflation continued to climb by 4.8% in April and the question of purchasing power dominated the presidential campaign, the government is working on an amending finance bill (PLFR) devoted to the power of purchase – known as the “
purchasing power law
”.
This bill must be examined by the new Parliament "
as soon as the deputies are elected
", announced the President of the National Assembly, Richard Ferrand, last Sunday.
This Wednesday, the Minister of Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire, receives in Bercy the national representatives of consumer associations.
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Invited were the UFC-Que Choisir, Rural Families (FR), the Association for the Defense, Education and Information of Consumers (ADEIC), the Confederation of Consumer Affairs, Housing and the Living Environment (CLCV) , the Association Force Ouvrière Consommateurs (AFOC) or the Association for the information and defense of salaried consumers (INDECOSA-CGT).
Measures for purchasing power
Contacted by
Le Figaro
, the associations announced that they hoped for measures in favor of purchasing power, in particular through the continuation of the exceptional aid already in place.
“
We need help given the price level
,” says Jean-Yves Mano, president of the CLCV, who is asking that the “
energy check
” of 100 euros granted in April to 38 million people in France be made permanent for be paid “
once per quarter
”.
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Jean-Yves Mano also calls for the extension of the discount at the pump of 18 cents per liter of fuel, introduced on April 1 and initially valid until the end of July only.
“
We must maintain the discount for everyone, not just for heavy drivers
“, adds Arnaud Faucon, national secretary of INDECOSA-CGT, who fears to see this aid extended only for road professionals.
The extension of the tariff shield for freezing the price of natural gas is also mentioned by association representatives.
On these two points, the associations should win their case, the government having announced at the end of the Council of Ministers this Wednesday morning the extension until the end of 2022 of the discount at the pump and the tariff shield on prices. Energy.
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The INDECOSA-CGT is also asking for a reduced VAT on a basket of basic necessities and an increase in the rate of the booklet A. “
The rates are so low that people lose money by saving
”, observes Arnaud Faucon.
In addition, several associations hope for a symbolic revaluation of personalized housing assistance (APL), the drop of 5 euros in 2017 of which had provoked a lively controversy.
“
Symbolically, it covers the price of a packet of pasta
,” says Jean-Yves Mano.
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Better dialogue with the executive
Another aspect of their claims, consumer associations hope to be able to build better relations with the ministry.
“
We are asking for a dedicated interlocutor, because today we do not have a Minister of Consumer Affairs
”, advances Patrick Mercier, president of ADEIC, who wants to be able to engage in a privileged dialogue with the government.
"
We need a direct channel where we can dialogue without aggressiveness and without demagoguery
," he says.
The associations are also asking for the freezing or even the increase of their operating subsidies, which have been falling for several years.
"
It is absolutely necessary that Bruno Le Maire takes into account the existence of consumer associations and the merits of their existence
“says Chantal Huet, president of the association Families of France.