The failing economy and harsh taxes of François Hollande's beleaguered nation are sending thousands packing - to Britain's friendlier shores
By Anne-Elisabeth Moutet
A poll on the front page of last Tuesday’s Le Monde, that bible
of the French Left-leaning Establishment (think a simultaneously boring and
hectoring Guardian), translated into stark figures the winter of
François Hollande’s discontent.
More than 70 per cent of the French feel taxes are “excessive”, and 80 per
cent believe the president’s economic policy is “misguided” and
“inefficient”. This goes far beyond the tax exiles such as Gérard Depardieu,
members of the Peugeot family or Chanel’s owners. Worse, after decades of
living in one of the most redistributive systems in western Europe, 54 per
cent of the French believe that taxes – of which there have been 84 new ones
in the past two years, rising from 42 per cent of GDP in 2009 to 46.3 per
cent this year – now widen social inequalities instead of reducing them.
