# Debate in France on mandatory levies and tax competitiveness > On October 27, 2026, Dominique Schelcher, CEO of Coopérative U, proposed reviewing the overall cost of social protection in the wage debate, while a business owner denounced the "tax exasperation" of French entrepreneurs. On October 28, France was presented as the European country with the highest mandatory levy rate in 2025, then ranked last in the OECD for tax competitiveness by the Tax Foundation on October 29. The same day, Benoît Perrin, director of Contribuables Associés, advocated a reduction or even abolition of the CSG on earned income, and Jean-Claude Bourrelier, founder of Bricorama, defended a reduction in social contributions. Early November, Gabrielle Cluzel and a business owner identified as Gaël respectively called for unleashing entrepreneurial spirit and lowering charges, on the eve of the November 5 mobilization. On November 7, Benoît Perrin is to speak in Antibes to defend a reduction in mandatory levies. **In brief**: Ongoing story bringing together 13 events nationwide, followed from 27 October 2026 to 9 November 2026. 26 articles from 16 sources (economy, politics); last updated on 9 November 2026 at 12:02. - Status: ongoing - Category: Economy, Politics - Place: Nationwide - First detected: 27 October 2026 at 08:36 - Updated: 9 November 2026 at 12:02 - Web page: https://acturadar.com/en/stories/136-debate-in-france-on-mandatory-levies-and-tax-competitiveness ## Reported figures - 50 milliards d’euros - 1305,1 milliards d'impôts - 23 milliards ## Coverage angles The three sides cover the same Eurostat ranking (46% of GDP in 2025), but the center insists on the record level and its possible continuation, while the right articulates this finding with entrepreneur testimonies and the OECD tax competitiveness ranking. **Common ground** - France posts in 2025 the highest mandatory levy rate in Europe, at 46% of GDP, ahead of Denmark and Belgium - France moves ahead of Denmark again after being surpassed the previous year - The debate takes place in a context of presidential campaign and purchasing power **Differences** - The right cites France's last-place OECD ranking in tax competitiveness (Tax Foundation), absent from the provided centrist articles - The right highlights proposals to reduce or abolish CSG and social contributions, an angle not present in centrist articles - The center underscores a possible continuation of the increase in 2027 via new tax revenues, an element not taken up in right-wing excerpts ## Timeline (13 events) ### 27 October 2026 — [Dominique Schelcher proposes reviewing the overall cost of social protection](https://acturadar.com/en/events/1563-dominique-schelcher-proposes-reviewing-the-overall-cost-of-social-protection.md) The CEO of Coopérative U, Dominique Schelcher, estimates that the overall cost of social protection should be reviewed in the debate on salaries. 1 sources, 2 articles · Nationwide ### 27 October 2026 — [Un chef d'entreprise dénonce le « ras-le-bol fiscal » des entrepreneurs français](https://acturadar.com/en/events/2136-un-chef-d-entreprise-denonce-le-ras-le-bol-fiscal-des-entrepreneurs-francais.md) Invité d'Europe 1, un chef d'entreprise de 50 ans qui vend sa société dénonce les cotisations, taxes et contraintes administratives pesant selon lui sur l'entrepreneuriat en France. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 28 October 2026 — [France again European champion of taxes in 2025](https://acturadar.com/en/events/2982-france-again-european-champion-of-taxes-in-2025.md) France posts in 2025 the highest compulsory levy rate in Europe, moving ahead of Denmark and Belgium again. 12 sources, 12 articles · Nationwide ### 29 October 2026 — [La France classée dernière de l'OCDE en compétitivité fiscale](https://acturadar.com/en/events/3610-la-france-classee-derniere-de-l-ocde-en-competitivite-fiscale.md) Selon la Tax Foundation, la France se classe 38e sur 38 pays de l'OCDE en matière de compétitivité fiscale, en raison d'un système complexe et très taxé. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 29 October 2026 — [Benoît Perrin propose de baisser voire supprimer la CSG sur l'activité](https://acturadar.com/en/events/3782-benoit-perrin-propose-de-baisser-voire-supprimer-la-csg-sur-l-activite.md) Le directeur de Contribuables Associés plaide sur Europe 1 pour une baisse des prélèvements sur les salaires, proposant de réduire voire supprimer la CSG afin d'augmenter le pouvoir d'achat. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 29 October 2026 — [Le fondateur de Bricorama plaide pour moins de prélèvements sociaux](https://acturadar.com/en/events/4235-le-fondateur-de-bricorama-plaide-pour-moins-de-prelevements-sociaux.md) Jean-Claude Bourrelier, fondateur de Bricorama, estime qu'« il faut que le travail paye plus » et défend une baisse des prélèvements sociaux pour augmenter les salaires, dans le contexte de la campagne présidentielle. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 1 November 2026 — [Pensions: France spends a lot but taxes pensions lightly](https://acturadar.com/en/events/6136-pensions-france-spends-a-lot-but-taxes-pensions-lightly.md) According to the latest data from DREES, France is among the European countries that spend the most on their retirees while taxing pensions relatively lightly. 2 sources, 2 articles · Nationwide ### 5 November 2026 — [Gabrielle Cluzel calls for unleashing the entrepreneurial spirit](https://acturadar.com/en/events/10868-gabrielle-cluzel-calls-for-unleashing-the-entrepreneurial-spirit.md) In 'Christine Kelly et vous', Gabrielle Cluzel argued that it is necessary to unleash the entrepreneurial spirit and reduce taxes, on the eve of the mobilization against the high cost of living. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 5 November 2026 — [A business owner denounces the cost of labor in France](https://acturadar.com/en/events/10867-a-business-owner-denounces-the-cost-of-labor-in-france.md) Gaël, a business owner, stated on the set of 'Christine Kelly et vous' that the cost of labor has become 'infernal' and advocated for a reduction in charges to encourage hiring, on the eve of the mobilization on November 5. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 7 November 2026 — [Benoît Perrin plaide pour une baisse des prélèvements lors d'une rencontre à Antibes](https://acturadar.com/en/events/12189-benoit-perrin-plaide-pour-une-baisse-des-prelevements-lors-d-une-rencontre-a.md) Le directeur de Contribuables associés doit intervenir lundi à Antibes, à l'invitation du député LR Éric Pauget, sur le pouvoir d'achat et la propriété privée. Il y défend une baisse des prélèvements obligatoires pour que le travail paie. 1 sources, 1 articles · Antibes — Alpes-Maritimes ### 9 November 2026 — [Sarah Knafo's figures on taxes and health put under scrutiny](https://acturadar.com/en/events/14710-sarah-knafo-s-figures-on-taxes-and-health-put-under-scrutiny.md) Sarah Knafo claims that France is "the most taxed people in the world without the best public services"; the fact-check confirms the tax burden but her health calculations are questionable. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 9 November 2026 — [La Cour des comptes critique l'explosion des niches fiscales](https://acturadar.com/en/events/14704-la-cour-des-comptes-critique-l-explosion-des-niches-fiscales.md) La Cour des comptes relève que le coût des niches et exonérations fiscales a augmenté de 42 % en vingt ans, avec 459 dispositifs dérogatoires, ce qui fragilise la norme fiscale. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 9 November 2026 — [Op-ed by Olivier Babeau on level of social spending and levies in France](https://acturadar.com/en/events/14684-op-ed-by-olivier-babeau-on-level-of-social-spending-and-levies-in-france.md) The essayist points out that France combines the highest levels of compulsory levies and public social spending among developed countries. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide --- Cite as: Acturadar, “Debate in France on mandatory levies and tax competitiveness”, https://acturadar.com/en/stories/136-debate-in-france-on-mandatory-levies-and-tax-competitiveness Methodology: https://acturadar.com/en/methodology