The Barnier government which hoped to garner more than 3 billion euros in additional revenue just suffered a major setback. In a surprise vote that transcends political divisions, senators chose to protect the wallets of French people heated with electricity. This decision marks a decisive turning point in the examination of the 2025 budget, while the government is already facing increasingly pressing threats of censorship.
The Senate prefers to tax gas rather than electricity
The Upper House has decided. Rather than accepting the massive increase in electricity taxes proposed by the government, senators opted for an alternative solution: increase the gas tax. This decision would generate 1.2 billion euros in revenue, significantly less than the 3 billion hoped for by the executive with its electricity tax.
For Jean-François Husson, general rapporteur for Les Républicains, this choice is part of a logic of energy transition. “We must favor electricity, carbon-free energy”he explains. The figures speak for themselves: with the government’s initial proposal, a 100 m² house heated with electricity would have seen its bill rise by 200 to 300 euros per year. With the Senate’s solution, homes heated with gas will only experience an increase of around 60 euros per year.
The Barnier government in an impasse
Laurent Saint-Martin, Minister of the Budget, immediately expressed his disagreement with this rebalancing. The government maintains its position: an increase in the TICFE (electricity tax) would be preferable, arguing that the drop in wholesale prices on the market would make it possible to compensate for this increase.
The executive was also committed to reduce electricity bills by 9% on February 1 for 80% of French people. A promise which now seems compromised by this Senate vote. This situation highlights the growing tensions between the government and its traditionally acquired senatorial majority.
An opposition that crystallizes around the energy question
This setback in the Senate echoes a previous vote in the National Assembly, where an opposition coalition had already rejected the government measure. The National Rally has even made this question one of its main arguments for a possible motion of censure against the Barnier government.
The socialist Thierry Cozic sums up the general feeling: “The government has chosen the easy way to find new revenue by taxing electricity again. This measure is socially unjust. » A criticism which finds a favorable echo among many elected officials, all political tendencies combined.
This decision by the Senate could mark a turning point in the examination of the 2025 budget. The government will now have to find other sources of financing to compensate for this shortfall of several billion euros, even though its political position seems increasingly more fragile.
- The Senate rejects the increase in taxation on electricity which was to bring in 3 billion euros
- Senators propose to increase the gas tax for a gain of 1.2 billion euros
- This decision weakens the Barnier government, already threatened by a motion of censure
