Sunday 19 February 2012

Socialism (or a least a bit of it) lives in France

 Thought you would like to know what  French socialists are promising to do after booting out   Sarko.  Why not compare their ideas with those of your favourite lefty party wherever you are?

Francois Hollande’s "60 commitments for France".

The programme of the Socialist candidate, prioritises tax reform,  measures to assist small and medium enterprises and proposals on education and youth employment.

In a document of some forty pages, the Socialist candidate said ".his project bears the mark of realism and rigor imposed by the economic crisis facing the country.  He plans a new Franco German Treaty, immediate withdrawal from Afghanistan

    * Finance

Francois Hollande said that "new measures" will cost, up to 20 billion euros by 2017 paid for by the cancellation of 29 billion euros of tax loopholes. The entire project is based on growth assumptions for the French economy of 2 to 2.5% by the end of his 5 year term term. He plans to  reduce the deficit to 3% of GDP, balanced by 2017

    * Taxation

 Key measures include : major tax reform and the creation of a 45% top rate of tax on incomes above 150,000 euros.  Priority will be given to small and medium enterprises, the creation of a public investment bank and saving bank scheme and an overhaul of corporation tax for the benefit of these companies. Public funding and tax breaks will be given  to companies that invest in France.
The tax of bank profits, will be increased by 15%.  Bank activities (employment and investment / speculation) will be separated and the use of tax havens prohibited.
Raise inheritance tax on largest estates.

    * Employment

 150,000 jobs for young people will be created. He proposes a "generation contract" to allow the hiring by companies of young people on permanent contracts if accompanied by a senior who will be retained in his employment until his retirement. To discourage lay offs, Francois Hollande wants increase the  cost of redundancies for companies that pay dividends.  Promote gender equality in the professions.

    * Education

 Education and youth is a priority.  60,000 jobs in education will be  created over five years.  Children under three years will be offered  kindergarten places. All 16 to 18 school leavers will be offered training, further education, or civil service places.
Higher  education, will be reformed together with an overhaul of undergraduate degree courses in order to break down barriers to avoid too much specialization. Full nationwide broadband coverage in 10 years.
    
 Energy and environment

A reduction in the share of the nuclear produced electricity from 75 to 50% by 2025.  In consideration of the environment, he announced a new progressive pricing structure of water, electricity and gas" in order to reduce consumption and to "get 8 million people out of fuel poverty. A plan for the  thermal insulation of one million homes per year will be launched.

   
 * Institutions

 Elected officials convicted of corruption will be ineligible for office for ten years.  The salary of the President of the Republic and ministers will be  reduced by 30% . The right to marriage and adoption will be given to homosexual couples.  Foreigners residing legally in France for five years will be able to vote in local elections.

    * Health

Francois Hollande insisted on the need to secure access to care  He argues for "a better distribution of physicians" through the creation of health centers in each local area, to include general practitioners, health center and local hospitals employees, An undertaking on euthanasia, in favor of actively assisted death, in "strict and specific conditions."

     *Pensions

Retirement at 60 for those who have paid all their pension contributions.

    * Immigration

 A "relentless fight against illegal immigration" and  expressed caution on the regularisation" of illegal immigrants, who will dealt with  on a case by case basis using objective criteria.

    * Security

 Proposals to ensure local security through the creation of priority security zones. These areas,  of which there would be a hundred, would concentrate strengthen and coordinate the services of justice, police, taxation and customs in the cities. To "secure" these neighborhoods, CRS and gendarmes would be deployed for several months. Proposes to recruit 5000 police and gendarmes in next five years

    * Justice

 Commitments to further guarantee the independence of justice by changing the method of appointment of prosecutors through a reform of the Higher Judicial Council. the application of minimum sentences. In terms of prison, he is committed to improving the living conditions of detainees.


 * Housing

Key measures will be:  Rent control in areas where prices are excessive; An increase in the supply of affordable housing by building 2.5 million homes including 150,000 social homes.  Social mix will  be encouraged by raising the threshold for social housing in municipalities to  25% from 20%. .  It will also be promoted by establishing the rule of three buildings: one third of social housing, one third of social housing for ownership and one third of private dwellings.

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