the National Assembly takes up a invoice criticized by the left | EUROtoday

After its adoption at first studying by the Senate in November, the National Assembly took up the invoice on Wednesday February 25 night to fight social and tax fraud, strongly criticized by the left who think about the textual content too centered on social fraud.

The debates for this primary studying have to be held till Friday. But with some thousand amendments underneath dialogue, on round 100 articles, deputies expressed their doubts about the potential for finishing the examination earlier than the three-week parliamentary break linked to the municipal elections. A movement to reject the textual content, tabled by France Insoumise, was narrowly rejected by 69 votes in opposition to. All left-wing teams supported it (62 votes in favor).

New technique of detecting fraud, strengthened sanctions and obligations, improved info sharing… The authorities hopes that the textual content will carry roughly two billion euros into the coffers, a welcome windfall at a time when the general public deficit is struggling to be lowered.

“It is our Republican duty to fight against fraud”declared Labor Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou within the hemicycle, calling on deputies to place apart their “a priori ideological” on tax fraud “which would concern businesses”and social fraud regarding “individuals”. “More than half of social fraud is the work of unscrupulous companies that resort to hidden work and evade payment of contributions”he harassed.

“A display text”

On the social facet, fraud represents an annual shortfall of 13 billion euros, based on the High Council for the Financing of Social Protection. However, solely 2.9 billion may very well be detected in 2024, with a really low efficient restoration fee. But tax fraud is “estimated between 80 and 100 billion euros per year”argued MP Christine Arrighi (ecological group), emphasizing “a deep and unjustifiable asymmetry” textual content. “More than two thirds of the articles in this bill (…) are devoted to social fraud”added socialist Sandrine Runel, denouncing “display text”.

The invoice targets “organized fraud” and no “the most modest”insisted the Macronist deputy Daniel Labaronne, co-rapporteur. In explicit, it proposes extending the tax and asset info to which completely different social organizations will be capable of have entry; to make the geolocation of medical transporters and permitted taxis compulsory; to raised regulate the chauffeur-driven transport automotive (VTC) sector; to deal with coaching fraud; and to strengthen the obligation of vigilance of the principal and the venture proprietor relating to work hidden in subcontracting chains.

It additionally plans to create a process for “social flagrance” permitting a precautionary seizure of the belongings of an organization suspected of undeclared work. Or to droop the cost of unemployment advantages when France Travail has “serious indications of fraudulent maneuvers”. On this level, Mr. Farandou introduced on Wednesday that the federal government could be in favor of left-wing amendments geared toward “to maintain the remainder of the benefits of the beneficiaries for the duration of the protective suspension”.

Airline file

An identical measure to droop social advantages was eliminated in committee on the initiative of the left and the centrist group Liberties, Independents, Overseas and Territories. Amendments to reinstate it have been tabled. “It’s a financial death sentence (…) on simple suspicion »thundered La France insoumise MP Louis Boyard.

Also deleted in committee, this time on the request of Les Républicains (LR) rapporteur Patrick Hetzel, a very controversial provision launched within the Senate, giving France Travail entry to information within the airline and airport file to raised detect fraud. LR deputies will attempt to reestablish it within the hemicycle, in opposition to the recommendation of the Ministry of Labor.

Faced with the discontent of liberal docs, the federal government has, as promised, tabled an modification to take away the obligatory nature of the “put under objective” by the Health Insurance of docs who overprescribe. Another authorities modification ought to permit prefects to order the non permanent administrative closure of an institution that has knowingly used, immediately or not directly, the service of an individual finishing up hidden work.

A solemn vote on the textual content is scheduled for March 31.