“Today, it is a tax fight between democracy and the oligarchy,” says François Ruffin, deputy (standing!) Of the Somme.

Guest of “4 truths” on France 2, François Ruffin, deputy (standing!) Of the Somme, returned to the mobilization of the French in the street and the question of tax justice. He also mentioned the means of taxation of ultra-rich and the need to rebalance the tax system.

This text corresponds to part of the transcription of the interview above. Click on the video to watch it in full.

Gilles Bornstein :: The last day of action was a success, without however constituting a tidal wave or particularly impressing the government. The question therefore arises: on October 2, do we encourage employees to lose a wage day for a fairly uncertain gain?

François Ruffin : Today, what people express in the street is that they refuse to continue to pay. We have already given two years for retirement, we have seen our frozen wages, and there is no longer any question that it is up to us to settle the note. More broadly, the festival of the oligarchy is over. The 500 largest fortunes, whose heritage has multiplied by fourteen while the minimum wage has not doubled in thirty years, can no longer continue like this. Bernard Arnault, who receives three billion dividends without paying a tax of tax, it’s over. In general, billionaires who are half less imposed as their secretaries or the nurses are over.

Today, it is a fiscal fight that opposes democracy to the oligarchy: the people, who claims tax justice, against some ultra-rich who seek to continue to escape tax. And I think that on October 2, the French and French who will move to the street will demonstrate the fed up. Already, the simple fact that demonstrations take place, despite the absence of budget, reform or even government, clearly shows that the patience of citizens has limits.

Gilles Bornstein :: The Prime Minister recently recognized the need for a tax justice effort, without further specifying the measures envisaged. The question therefore arises: for François Ruffin, is the Zucman tax unavoidable?

François Ruffin : Zucman tax is a good tool, but I ask the Prime Minister for an obligation of result, not just means. We must find 15 to 20 billion euros on the billionaires of the country: a derisory sum for them. During the Covid crisis, the 500 largest fortunes saw their heritage increase by 236 billion euros in one year, while the economy was stopped, that the French were confined and those who maintain the standing country: nurses, home help, cashiers, are not rewarded. The billions go to ultra-rich. There are therefore clearly 15 to 20 billion to recover each year on the greatest fortunes, by the Zucman tax, the return of the solidarity tax on wealth, the deletion of screen companies, the raising of dividends or the taxation of large transmissions. Several solutions are possible.

Gilles Bornstein :: The increase in flat tax (single lump sum sample), currently at 30 %, reaching 33, 34 or 35 %, is enough?

François Ruffin : It is a way among others. This is added to the imposition of heritage, the taxation of large transmissions and the deletion of screen companies.

Gilles Bornstein :: And what about fiscal niches, which benefit more from households than in large fortunes?

François Ruffin : The 15 to 20 billion to recover concern exclusively ultra-rich, the richest 0.01 %, the 1,600 households whose heritage has exploded in recent years. These homes benefit from a double injustice: not only do they accumulate an immense heritage, but they are half less imposed as those who work, like the garbage collectors, and much less than Bernard Arnault. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen stipulates that everyone must contribute according to their faculties. However today, it is exactly the opposite: taxes are proportionately heavier for those who have less. 80 % of French people demand a tax rebalancing, and even the IMF highlights the need to correct this injustice.

Gilles Bornstein :: If we can’t reach these 15 billion, is the discussion closed?

François Ruffin : I still hope a miracle, even when Sébastien Lecornu speaks in the National Assembly to present his general policy speech. Maybe then, the little ones will pay small and the big ones will pay big. But for the moment, despite the declarations on tax justice, consultation and rupture, reality remains that of the continuity of the Macron government: the Zucman tax is dismissed, the return of the solidarity tax on the wealth is excluded, the repeal of retirement at 64 years is not envisaged, even temporarily. For the moment, there is no break. But I keep confidence in humanity: if a miracle occurs, I will be the first to applaud in the Assembly.

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This text corresponds to part of the transcription of the interview above. Click on the video to watch it in full.