News Digest: France (Finally!) Has a New Prime Minster & French-German Border Controls

Last Thursday, September 5th, came the news that everyone in France has been waiting for – President Emmanuel Macron finally appointed a new Prime Minister. As Gabriel Attal, France’s youngest-ever prime minister at just 35, stands down, his successor, Michel Barnier, makes history as the country’s oldest-everprime minister at 73. It’s also been the longest that France has ever been without a prime minister – almost two months!

So, who is Michel Barnier and what do we need to know about the new man at the head of the French government?

Firstly, Barnier is a member of the right-wing Les Republicains (LR) party, which is being seen as a blow to the left-wing Nouveau Front Populaire coalition that won the most votes in the snap legislative elections back in July (but was also a long way from an overall majority). However, Barnier also has no affiliations with Macron’s centrist party.

A political veteran, Barnier most recently held the role of the European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator but stepped back from politics following an unsuccessful attempt to become his party’s presidential candidate back in 2022. He has also served as a minister under the right-wing administrations of presidents Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy. Macron’s decision seems to have taken into consideration not only his experience but also his ability to withstand the inevitable votes of no confidence that are expected to befall any PM without a majority. Marine Le Pen has so far stated that she will not immediately reject Barnier, while the Nouveau Front Populaire are still vowing to oust him – let’s see what happens.

Macron has been clear about the task that lies ahead of the new prime minister – to create “a unifying government in the service of the country” – and this certainly isn’t going to be an easy one given the current political climate. We’ll keep you updated as we learn more about Barnier’s government.

If you’re a French property owner, you may have already received your taxe foncière property tax bills – if not, you’ll likely receive it soon. These taxes are set by your local commune and depend upon the size of your property, among other things, so there is no one-size-fits-all explanation to help you understand how much you should be paying. However, as a ballpark, tax bills have risen by an average of 3.9% across the country.

For certain communes, this increase is even higher – for example, Nice has increased taxes by 15.8%, Saint-Étienne by 14.1 %, and Nancy and Annecy by 13.4 %. Many communes have opted not to increase taxes at all, and a few have even decreased it.

While there’s unfortunately nothing that can be done about these tax hikes, if you think your bill is incorrect, you can contest it by contacting your local tax office within two months of receiving it.

Remember, if you own a second home in France, you’ll also be receiving an additional bill later on this year for the taxe d’habitation. See our France Tax Calendar 2024: All the Key Dates for Your Diary.

Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has announced that in an attempt to “further reduce irregular migration”, the country is setting up temporary controls at all of its land borders. Germany already had such checks in place at some borders (with Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Switzerland), but this will now be extended to the land borders with France, as well as Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark.

 Typically, within the EU Schengen Area, there are no internal borders and no checks for those driving between Germany and France, but countries are still allowed to make decisions affecting their domestic immigration policy. It’s nonetheless a controversial move and one that many are hoping will be lifted after the temporary period of six months.

If you plan to drive over the French-German border in the future, it’s a good idea to allow a little extra time for your journey, as you will need to comply with these border checks. As long as you can present your EU passport or non-EU passport that has been corrected, stamped or registered by the EEA scanners (from November onwards) and is within the 90-day allowance, you should have no problems proceeding.

We’re back with another free webinar on Thursday 26th September. Host Karen Tait will be joined by a panel of experts to introduce you to some of the most exciting and unique opportunities available on the French property market today. Whether you’re looking for real estate investment opportunities, unsure about the type of French property you’d like to buy, or simply want to learn more about the diverse array of properties available, then this webinar is for you.

Sign up now so you don’t miss out!

Investing in French Property: Real Estate Opportunities You Might Not Know About

Thursday 26th September
4pm UK / 5pm France / 11am USA (EDT)