Bruno Le Maire proposes six-nation European federation

Former French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire has released a 60-page manifesto proposing a radical restructuring of France and its relationship with Europe. A central pillar of the proposal is the creation of a federation of six nation-states, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, and the Netherlands, to mutualize resources on specific public policies.

Addressing domestic economic concerns, Le Maire advocates for significant tax reforms to increase net wages by reducing the burden on workers. He argues that the social model should not be primarily financed by labor and suggests that the gap between gross and net salaries must be narrowed. To address France's high public debt, he proposes maintaining surtaxes on large corporations and high earners.

Regarding governance, Le Maire suggests centralizing more authority within the Ministry of Finance (Bercy), including the power to veto matters related to public finances and limiting parliamentary amendment rights that increase spending. While the manifesto positions him as an active participant in political debate ahead of the 2027 elections, Le Maire stated he is not currently a candidate for the presidency.