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France Imposes Taxes to Raise $3.55 Billion

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From Reuters

France, facing a social security deficit of $4 billion, announced a series of temporary taxes on salaries, capital and real estate investments that the government said would raise $3.55 billion.

Premier Jacques Chirac released a statement Friday night detailing the government’s plans after the evening television news programs and at mid-point of a holiday weekend.

The announcement was timed to attract minimal media attention and released after the stock exchange had closed.

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The statement stressed that the new measures were exceptional in nature and not permanent.

Chirac’s plan avoids any reduction in social security payments for the system which covers 99.2% of the population with medical and old age insurance.

The daily newspaper Liberation said Saturday the new taxes are expected to raise only $1.25 billion by the end of 1987, leaving the social security system with a $2.5 billion deficit for this year--just the amount the government is allowed by law to borrow from the treasury.

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