The president of the UDR group, Eric Ciotti, is in discussions with two of his deputies, Charles Alloncle and Vincent Trébuchet, at the conclusion of a session at the National Assembly in Paris on October 1, 2024. Eric Ciotti has formed an alliance with Marine Le Pen but sometimes seems to regret the Reagan era of his father, Jean-Marie. For its first budget, the Union des droites pour la République (UDR), a new movement led by the former right-wing leader, has adopted the principles of liberal right-wing ideology, with added elements of Le Pen’s ideas. The small group of 16 deputies is asserting its economic identity, risking appearing to contradict its ally, the Rassemblement National (RN).
In an interview with the Journal du Dimanche on October 13, Eric Ciotti set the tone for a party that is not afraid of caricature, calling the government’s budget under Michel Barnier “socialist” and describing it as an “extremely violent fiscal shock.” He promises instead “massive reduction in public spending and a decrease in mandatory levies.” The UDR group has primarily proposed measures that would reduce state revenue and only a few avenues for savings that have been previously raised on the right. Other proposals will be put forward in the future, mentioning the tax break for ship owners and the insourcing of tasks carried out by half of the independent administrative authorities.
Eric Ciotti aims to eliminate the system of intermittent workers, as many right-wing leaders have done before him, and to stop funding public broadcasting through VAT. In addition to opposing targeted taxes proposed by Michel Barnier, Ciotti suggests financially symbolic tax cuts that would impact the wealthiest citizens. He proposes eliminating the “Chirac” solidarity tax on plane tickets that the government plans to double, the tax on vacant properties that encourages landlords to rent out their properties and funds the National Housing Agency, and even the development tax on garden sheds and verandas over 20 square meters, stating that it is the end of ideological and restrictive taxes. Another proposal is to significantly reduce inheritance and donation taxes.
Two other proposals by the deputy from Nice were withdrawn on the eve of the debates after group deliberations: one aimed to abolish the employee contribution that funds trade unions and employer organizations through the fund for financing social dialogue, while the other targeted the luxury goods tax, an imposed flat tax on the sale of precious metals, jewelry, or collectibles that reportedly encourages tax evasion. The UDR group is pushing for a reduction in public spending and a decrease in mandatory levies while opposing the targeted taxes proposed by the government and proposing tax cuts affecting the wealthiest citizens. This represents a shift towards a more economically liberal and Le Pen-influenced direction within the right-wing political landscape.
