French left-wing primary candidates debate tax reform and student protests

Candidates for the left-wing primary in France engaged in a second major debate on France 2, addressing key issues including student mobilizations, fiscal policy, and the party's relationship with La France Insoumise.

A central point of contention was the proposed reduction of the CSG (General Social Contribution) tax. Raphaël Glucksmann advocated for lowering the CSG on salaries, suggesting it could increase a worker's monthly take-home pay by 105 euros. He proposed funding this through taxes on large inheritances exceeding two million euros. Conversely, Olivier Faure criticized this approach, labeling it a “vieille recette libérale” (old liberal recipe) and arguing that such measures risk creating a society of privileges rather than fighting them.

The candidates also discussed recent student protests. While there was a consensus that the underlying anger regarding public services is legitimate, the candidates expressed varying degrees of firmness regarding the accompanying violence. Jérôme Guedj called for organized dialogue within schools, while Raphaël Glucksmann criticized political leaders from La France Insoumise for their handling of the situation.