Point stage for debate on national identity

The year 2010 will be marked by economic maturity and social major, to the first rank of which the pension reform. But, like this record, number of difficult decisions will be taken after the regional and the result of the vote will affect the strategy. The Government will nevertheless have to position themselves as early as this month, on sites that can't wait. The situation today.

The Parliament must vote the carbon tax before the regional elections. It is the most burning and more unexpected, the beginning of this year. Invalidated by the Constitutional Council, the carbon tax could not enter into force on January 1. The Government must put this week in profit to review its copy and limit the scope of the exemptions from the most polluting industries, which motivated the decision of the wise. The new tax will be included in the budget class which will be presented by the Council of Ministers, on 20 January, and will be voted by the National Assembly and the Senate as early as February, before the break for the regional elections, said yesterday the Budget Minister, Eric Woerth, on Europe 1.

Instead to annul the measure, "it would have better taken to the Constitutional Council to issue reserves or wishes to change the tax in the future," regretted Thursday Michel Rocard, who chaired the Conference of experts on this subject. "The victim, is the planet, is the risk that is combating ill and quickly enough not climate change," he added. Eric Woerth, the new carbon tax should better "articulate" with the European system of CO2 quotas for heavy industry. It would be therefore applied, at least partially, to these companies. But the subject of compensation, as in Sweden.

Public Finance Conference: 20 billion dé think local unnecessary. It will be held shortly after the presentation of the budget group, which will also incorporate the investment for the future. They will increase the 35 billion budget deficit and public debt within the meaning of Maastricht will establish the 8.5 of GDP planned until then for 2010. The revision to the increase of growth and tax revenue in part dampen degradation: Eric Woerth stated yesterday that "is between 1 and 1.5 growth, may be 1.5 if things go well" (instead of 0.75). François Fillon had mentioned such range. Public Finance Conference will be used to diagnose the financing needs of the State, social security and local communities and to consider relief measures to be taken after the regional elections.

The Government must also pass this month a new program of public finance to the European Commission, incorporating the constraint of a return to the deficit under the 3 of GDP in 2013 (it was until then at 5 of GDP). Bercy will ask the State and public operators of massive savings on operating costs. Nicolas Sarkozy initiated debate the establishment of a "golden rule" on the reduction of the deficit. Finally, Eric Woerth yesterday estimated that 200 billion local spending, there is "15 to 20 billion of skills, duplicate, wasteful duplication", between regions, departments and communes. The debate with communities is launched.

The reform of the local communities in danger in the Senate. Declined in four bills, the large site of the restructuring of local institutions will put the Government strained. The method of balloting to elect territorial advisors, that in 2014 will replace General, regional advisers is very criticized by tenors of the majority, led by Jean-François Copé, Chairman of the Group UMP, and Bernard Accoyer, President of the National Assembly.

As the Senate, where the debate on the reform of the local project starts on 19 January, its President, Gérard Larcher, indicated to at the outset that there was "no majority" on this provision. The questioning of the general clause of jurisdiction of the General advice is not self-evident to many chairs of Department to the high Assembly.

Last settings for tax on bonuses. A few weeks of the announcement of their bonus to traders, the Government wants to deter banks to pay excessive amounts, at the expense of their own funds. A 50 tax will be applied to the bonuses paid this year. Bercy is stalling the last setting from this tax, to make it consistent with the announced at the United Kingdom. It must decide if the bonus guaranteed, deferred or shares are concerned, and if the tax on wages (maximum 14) is included in the 50. The objective is to achieve a product a little more of EUR 200 million, for the extension of the deposit guarantee fund.

The puzzle of employment. The record of employment will remain on the front of the stage. For the moment, the Government plans no new measures: the Secretary of State for employment Laurent Wauquiez, believes that "the tools palette is on the table." But the Executive knows that the unemployment at the beginning of the year will be crucial, especially to the near PA in regional elections. However, the Insee still anticipates 126.000 destruction of employment in the first half.

The State will be expected on the issue of the unemployed at the end of rights, whose number is expected to reach 1 million. The strengthening of the training of the unemployed, on which a report must be submitted soon, will be another important issue. Will add to be evil to work: the Labour Minister, Xavier Darcos, was asked by big companies to conclude here on February 1 of the agreements on the subject.

Point stage for debate on national identity. Launched by Eric Besson late October with the support of Nicolas Sarkozy, the "great debate over national identity" has changed on immigration, the burqa or the minarets. A point that Nora Berra, Secretary of State for seniors, slammed the door of a meeting of the UMP in the Assembly, before the holidays, to protest against remarks "intolerable" Member Pascal Clément. Most officials fear that the debate benefits the far right to the regional instead of dry it. Originally planned to shut before the election, he was rejected "until end of 2010". The Minister of Immigration and national identity must present today a first point of step with a synthesis of the local debates.