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It is wrong to believe that May 1st is "traditionally" non-political in France! Since the first observance of Labor Day in 1891 in the Hexagon – which ended in a shootout by 9 victims in Fourmies (North) -, the protests have always been exploited politically. Including the left, which long ago found a way to fight "big capital". It was in Paris in 1889, at the meeting of the Second Socialist International, as of May 1 was chosen to celebrate Labour Day. The idea came from Raymond Lavigne, an elected socialist Bordeaux. Other collusion, Marshal Pétain decreed in 1941 the statutory holiday of May 1st "Labor Day and national harmony" on a proposal from René Belin, a former leader of the Communist wing of the CGT became Minister of Labour.

For ten years he has not had a chance without the left calls its members to inflate union marches to protest against the political right. In 2003, to oppose the Fillon reform of pensions in 2008 for the first year of Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee, in 2009 against the crisis response

. Between the two towers

Recovery attempts have been such that the union leaders had to restrain the demands of socialist leaders credit score. As in 2010, full pension reform Woerth: Bernard Thibault and François Chérèque had banned members of the staff of PS to march alongside them. A compromise had been reached by organizing a photo during the transition, at a street corner, union leaders. It would have been unrealistic to imagine that in 2012, which falls on 1 May as in every election between the two towers, it could be otherwise. It is only up a notch. The dikes were shattered, and the CGT find nothing wrong with the proposal of Jean-Luc Melenchon to manifest to him. And for good reason.

This will be a year on Tuesday that its leader has taken the field against the reelection of the head of state. On 1 May 2011, on the set of "Grand Jury RTL-Le Figaro-LCI," Bernard Thibault had first confessed that he would not, personally, that Nicolas Sarkozy makes a second term. A statement that had surprised on the day of Labor Day, supposedly, "by tradition" apolitical.

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"May 1st: Sarkozy divides unions

Christine Lagarde is more than ever determined to "increase the firepower of the International Monetary Fund", that its financial resources. But if the euro area "is the epicenter of the potential risks" of the global economy, "Europe is not the only one? We are not obsessed with a region "said Thursday in Washington, executive director of the IMF during a press conference that opened two days of spring meetings of IMF and World Bank.

Capacity building support from the Fund will be the highlight of the discussions to be attended especially the G20 finance ministers. Christine Lagarde has renewed its appreciation to Japan, "the first country that has decided to commit themselves" to the tune of 60 billion euros, while acknowledging "the Scandinavian countries who responded to the call and Singapore."

The Japanese contribution is the first quantified commitment to a non-European. This is in addition to those States of the euro area itself, which from the outset, have said they would put 150 billion euros in the pot (just under $ 200 billion). But Christine Lagarde, who had advanced earlier this year the figure of 500 billion, reduced its ambitions "to just over $ 400 billion" figure it has itself argued in an interview Tuesday Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore.

Bilateral borrowing agreements

The negotiations will be very difficult and should not be concluded this week with the aim of reaching agreement at the annual meetings of October 2012 in Tokyo. On behalf of the United States, Tim Geithner, Treasury Secretary, said two days ago that his country "would not put money" but would support those participating in the operation. Recall that this strengthening of resources take the form of bilateral loan agreements with its 188 member countries (including the last admitted this week is Southern Sudan). It is not a capital increase of the IMF, as such. Now this is where the rub the side of the emerging countries, including China and Brazil, who would like to link this extension means the Fund to an expansion of their representation. Now it is even less question that the last reform of 2010 increasing quotas and powers to the board in favor of emerging countries mainly, has still not been ratified by the necessary majority. Within the G20, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Indonesia, Mexico and the United States, have not yet ratified, do we reported to the IMF.

Christine Lagarde must also combat the widely held in international public opinion that the firewall is only designed to help Europe, Spain and Italy, among others. She also found that Spain does not need assistance plan "for now".

Executive Director of the IMF insisted on Thursday the new initiatives launched recently, as "the trust fund for the poorest countries", mentioning also "the five countries of the Arab Spring, for which we need more resources." But the difficulty is to find a common agreement with the governments, especially with Egypt, for which the loan of $ 3.2 billion from the IMF, which should be a catalyst for international aid, is still pending .

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"The IMF maintains pressure on European banks

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"The IMF revises up slightly its forecast for growth

The government deficit in France in 2013 is forecast at 3.9% of gross domestic product (GDP), far from the 3% target set by the government, according to forecasts biannual International Monetary Fund (IMF) published today.

This year, the deficit would reach 4.6%, says the IMF, against 4.4% in commitment from France to its European partners.

In its "Monitor of public finances", the IMF predicts that France approaches the symbolic threshold of 3% in 2014, with a year behind the official schedule. These projections mean that the next president, whoever he is, will soon adopt a new fiscal tightening after the election of May 6 Indeed, the president-candidate Nicolas Sarkozy and his Socialist rival Francois Hollande, the poll favorite, have both pledged to cut the deficit to 3% in 2013.

For its part, the public debt of France is expected to increase next year the symbolic threshold of 90% of GDP to 90.8%, while all candidates hope to contain it to below this threshold. It would commence thereafter a slow reflux.

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"The IMF revises up slightly its forecast for growth

"If we do not respect the line to reduce our deficits and our debt to the minute interest rates will rise." Wednesday, Nicolas Sarkozy has gone a step further in the dramatization. After Francois Fillon, who suggested Tuesday that a hint of victory would boost Francois Hollande attacks against the euro area, the president candidate has warned against any slippage in the path of fiscal consolidation.

To raise the specter of an uncontrollable ascent rates, the current majority is based on digging for a few days the gap between interest rates ten years French (2.93% on Wednesday) and German ( 1.79%). At 114 basis points, after reaching 135 points Tuesday, this spread has actually widened over 30 points in a month.

Should we see a sign of growing distrust of markets in anticipation of a victory for the left, and expect a speculative attack against France after the second round? If the debate on this subject undoubtedly grows, nothing concrete has yet support this thesis. "The widening gap in interest rates between France and Germany is primarily due to lower rates to ten years German, while at the same time the French rate increase very little," said Patrick Jacq, BNP Paribas. In fact, France borrowed Wednesday cheaper than January 1 – the rate at ten years then stood at 3.20%. At the height of the crisis in the euro area, last fall, the OAT to ten years had reached a yield of 3.70% and the gap with Germany was around 190 points. The position occupied by Francois Hollande favorite in the presidential polls did not even affect the bond markets.

The fact remains that, beyond political considerations alone, the French debt will find itself under strong pressure in the coming days. Several factors will combine. The first is technical. As of Monday, April 16, the derivatives market Eurex will boost the marketing of futures contracts on the OAT need a personal loan with bad credit. Some see an opportunity for traders to speculate on France. "The danger is actually involved as a hedging tool transformed into an instrument of credit risk management," says Patrick Jacq. In other words, that some operators are betting on a French credit event.

Community constraint

Precisely, the second is the threat to a likely downgrade of France by Moody's, which can occur anytime during the next four weeks. On this theme, moreover, that the Socialist candidate responded to the attacks of the UMP: "If there was loss of triple A, is due to the left or right because of?" , asked Francois Hollande in response to declining rating by Standard & Poor's mid-January.

But the main constraint to be exercised on the French debt will be at the community. By coincidence, in the days following the second round, the European Commission must publish its report on the growth prospects of French public finances. However, this report will not consider the program of President-elect. "There is a risk that this be interpreted by markets as a distrust of the new president," worries do we camp in the Netherlands. In fact, it is on structural reforms of the future government that markets deem the French debt. "The benchmark in Europe now, it's Mario Monti and his reform of the labor market," says a senior European official. From this point of view, Francois Hollande is a real risk, arguing such measures as hiring officials or the questioning, even partial, of the pension reform.

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After staying away for two years, the restaurants, the French again gradually to leave their homes for lunch or dinner. Since January, attendance at schools, fast food at three-star, rose 0.6%, according to research firm NPD. And not about to tighten their belts. Average spending also rose 0.6% in the first nine months of the year.

Another sign of joy: the last quarter, growth in attendance is highest in restaurants with table service, where the addition is much salt in fast food, which represent 68% of visits and 44% total expenditure of the French.

However, the recovery is shy and sometimes chaotic. As a result, many professionals are choosy. "The first quarter seemed to promise a clear recovery this year.

While the government is preparing a new fiscal tightening, because of spending cuts and tax increases, the debate on VAT resurfaced. One of the approaches proposed by the executive would be to create a new intermediate rate, between the rate of 5.5% and 19.6%. This increase targeted VAT would be used to finance a reduction in social enterprises. This was called the "social VAT" in 2007 and now named the UMP "antidélocalisation VAT."

Francois Fillon said last week that the restoration work and housing continue to benefit from a 5.5% VAT. But there are other sectors taxed at the same rate (books, food, water …). This pattern of a VAT has the advantage of antidélocalisation consistent with the government's strategy to improve competitiveness.Many big names of the majority favor this option, as revealed by Le Monde Wednesday payday loans for bad credit. But the subject is politically sensitive.

At Bercy and Matignon, we refused to comment Wednesday, reaffirming that decisions depend on the outcome of EU summit.

However, it seems almost assumed that the new austerity plan will include an increase in corporate income tax, most likely via a surcharge, which weigh down for a few years the current rate of 33.3%. This surcharge would be targeted at large companies (those falling within the scope of the social contribution to the IS and therefore paying more for 763,000 euros IS). For cons, the Elysee remains opposed to a reduction in payroll tax relief for 35 hours.

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"The UMP suggest new austerity measures

"The revision of growth suspended at the top of the EU

"After three years of starvation wages, marked by wage freezes or increases in general very limited, 2012 could confirm the recovery that began this year," said Bruno Rocquemont, responsible for investigating compensation at Mercer France.

According to the survey (1) conducted by the consulting firm in human resources, business plan for most occupational categories increased by 3% (median) budget increase (collective and individual), against 2.5 % in 2011. The exceptions are the workers (+2.8%) and senior (2.9%). But in any case, it would exceed the average inflation of 1.7% in 2012 by the government.

End of the wage freeze

Two major trends. On the one hand an almost complete disappearance of the wage freeze, a measure widely implemented at the height of the crisis.However, 4% of companies plan to freeze the workers and managers.

In addition, the company forecasts reflected the "sacrosanct" rate increase of 3%, which was applied during the years before the crisis erupted instant payday loan.

In addition, both groups seem to be emerging. First, the majority, has given the 3% salary increase. A second, more prudent, considering between 2.1% and 2.5%.

The survey was conducted between March and mid-July, ie before the great economic and financial events of the summer (crisis in the euro area, downward revision in growth for 2011 and 2012, falling stock markets …), Mercer, again, questioned 142 of the 329 companies in its original sample.

"Eight out of ten believe that these events will bring them to scale back their budgets for salary review.This reduction could be 0.5 point fall. In contrast, companies planning to date, a wage freeze, are still a small minority, said Bruno Rocquemont. In this context, we have to closely follow the mandatory annual negotiations (NAO), which launched just been given in some societies and that will continue into March. "

(1) survey of 329 companies, mostly French subsidiaries of multinational corporations.

Certainly, Barack Obama will not have failed to read the study. While the U.S. President will propose to Congress on Monday a special tax on the income of taxpayers earning over a million dollars a year (about 725,000 euros), a survey by the University of Virginia published in early September in the journal Psychological Science, points out that a more progressive tax system is, the higher the level of "happiness" of its citizens is high. In other words, severely taxing the wealthiest taxpayers would be a catalyst for social welfare, said Shigehiro Oishi, director of the study.

Based on the results of such surveys of the American Institute Gallup, the researchers sifted through the levels of well-being of 54 countries by comparing them with the "escalation" of their respective tax systems.It appears that countries with happiness displayed by the people is the highest (led the quintet Denmark, Finland, Switzerland, Belgium, and Australia in that order) are those whose levels of taxation do matter the most high vis-à-vis the highest incomes. Note that France, whose maximum tax rate fell from 48.1% to 41% over the period 2003-2010 according to a KPMG survey of the institute, for its part, is ranked the twelfth largest in terms of " happiness "overall.

Public services better

But because of the difficulty of measuring this "joie de vivre", which does not depend exclusively on the level of wealth of a population, these results are to be taken lightly.And the United States, the richest country in the world and has a maximum tax rate of 35% in 2010 to eighth carracolent barometer of well-being of Gallup, far ahead of France.

Still, according Shigehiro Oishi, the correlation between a higher tax on high incomes and "joie de vivre" is mainly due to better quality public services in the countries concerned. He cites all government expenditures for "housing, education and public transport."

Under this prism, so some argue that the will of Barack Obama to tax more millionaires will have no impact on the happiness of Americans, as this is seen against a plan to reduce the budget deficit. But gentle irony, at least one of its taxpayers would certainly his "joie de vivre 'progress: the billionaire Warren Buffett.In an article published last month in The New York Times, the head of Berkshire Hathaway investment fund argued for such a measure: "While the poorer classes and middle classes are fighting for us in Afghanistan, while most Americans are struggling to make ends meet month we mega-wealthy continue to benefit from special tax exemptions, "he complained. Not sure, however, that the unanimity of implementation within the cocoon of "mega-rich"!

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While the price war is raging in the mobile, the controversy swells at the end of unlimited Internet packages, the operators challenge the tender on licensing 4G, Eric Besson, Minister of Industry, responds to Figaro on all issues and criticizing the socialist project on digital.

LE FIGARO. – The bidding on licenses 4G is attacked. Will you give up?

Eric Besson. – The State Council will vote Wednesday. Expect. But thanks to this call for nominations, France will be part of the forefront of the mobile broadband Internet. The government is selling rare frequency of the highest quality, which all countries say they are strategic. We do this with the twin goals of coverage and stimulating competition, the benefit of consumers. Traders feared that a monopoly or duopoly is not recreated.But this call for applications is the first to include criteria as pro-competitive: the creation of four lots so that all current operators can expect to find their place, creating a criterion favoring offers to host virtual operators. We have gone as far as possible to encourage competition. But we also need strong operators, able to achieve very significant investment for years to come, both for the deployment of mobile broadband as that of the optical fiber.

How will you deal with interference of DTT by 4G?

As has always been the case in all countries of the world, a trader who buys frequencies is liable for any interference that they can generate. We assess that risk to less than 2% of households.To facilitate the processing of any such interference, the government will establish a single telephone number, with a small call center, so that individuals can report any such interference on their TV and get the linkage with operator responsible. This device will be funded by all operators at a rate of 2 million euros per year for five years.

You advocate for changing the standard of TNT. Chains bonus going to be frozen, and consumers will they have to buy a TV?

I am not campaigning for anything, and there will be no change in standard of TNT in the coming years. The French continue to receive 19 free channels and 10 pay channels of TNT, with no changes.What we're talking about is the next step, and new services to be launched in the coming years: new TV channels, personal mobile TV, 3D TV … The question is whether these new services will use the older DVB-T or the new DVB-T2 which allows to get 70% extra services. Chains on bonus, not the government that calls into question, but the European Commission, which initiated proceedings no teletrack payday loans. It would be irresponsible to issue permits for them to be canceled two years later, and that the state is then ordered to pay $ 800 million to 1 billion euros in compensation.Let the president of the CSA put its proposal and the prime minister officiate.

Packages Unlimited Internet at home are at risk?

The unlimited plans are at the heart of the development of the digital economy and are not threatened, quite the contrary. New unlimited call plans appear almost every week. Some operators have started to consider to better segment their offer, which does by no means the end of the unlimited. With the development of very high speed, there will be even more unlimited in the months and years to come.

How do you protect consumers?

We have set up with the social tariff Frédéric Lefebvre mobile phone, which allows 40 minutes to communicate and send 40 SMS for less than 10 euros per month.We will implement in the coming days the social tariff of the Internet, or 20 euros per month for telephone and broadband Internet, plus 3 euros per month for a box. We will sign an initial agreement on September 13. The order that I issued on August 26 also includes important measures as the establishment of an impartial mediator to each operator, the requirement to obtain consent from consumers for the automatic sending of commercial messages or for the establishment of witnesses navigation.

What are the issues you organize inter-ministerial seminar on October 21?

This is progress in the implementation of the declaration of Deauville.Networks (both funding and security), protection of personal data and the fight against the digital divide will be on the agenda.

What do you think of socialist proposals on digital?

The project of the PS is archaic. It is based on a tax Internet access, known as "socially progressive". Internet access will be paid based on their income! The PS also wants to abolish Hadopi and create a global license. This proposal has been accepted anywhere in the world. This would be the end of copyright in the land of the cultural exception! The PS also provides for the creation of a single public operator for the deployment of high-speed fixed and mobile. He still has not understood that the introduction of competition was the key factor in broadband deployment and growth of the digital economy.

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