French Government Denounces Leak on Salary Savings Tax Plans and Refers Case to Justice

On September 7, 2026, the French government officially responded to unauthorized leaks concerning internal deliberations about introducing a tax on salary savings as part of the 2027 budget preparation. The Prime Minister's office, led by Sébastien Lecornu, reported the leak to the Paris public prosecutor, invoking Article 40 of the Penal Procedure Code due to the transmission of confidential documents not yet finalized by the government.

Economic newspaper Les Echos had published reports suggesting the government intended to impose new contributions on certain employer bonuses linked to savings plans. However, both Prime Minister Lecornu and Economy Minister Roland Lescure emphasized these were merely working papers and did not reflect any official government decision. Lecornu clarified that some leaked materials had not even reached Matignon and strongly disassociated himself from the proposal reportedly supported in those leaked documents.

The government expressed serious concern that premature disclosure of these internal discussions could disrupt the economic climate by causing misinformed investment decisions. Lescure condemned the leaks as "inadmissible" and harmful to national interests, stating that judicial investigations will be undertaken to identify those responsible within public institutions. The government's stance reiterates that only the official budget proposal will establish its political choices moving forward.