But margins of budgetary manoeuvre being low there is no great tax evening

Dominique de Villepin, who prepares to take two weeks of sick leave, is sure holiday duties. After employment the alpha and the Omega of its action upon his arrival at Matignon, the Prime Minister wants to broaden his palette in economic terms, so, according to his entourage, "creating a sustainable environment for growth." For re-entry, the Government reflects thus measures of innovation, export support, but also to the employee share ownership, as a response to "the case" Danone. Industrial policy will also be honoured.

During his second press conference, Dominique de Villepin will develop in priority the results of its first two months at the head of the Government. With a feeling of accomplishment: the employment guidelines will be presented next Tuesday at the last Council of Ministers, and the set of measures will be operational as of 1 September. Pro-active on privatisation (France Telecom, SFM, motorways) and the poles of competitiveness, he avoided frontal opposition with the unions by limiting the decline in the number of officials in 2006, boosting jobs-young closely assisted contracts, or even proposing a reform balanced control of the unemployed.

Private state of grace, the head of the Government yet seems to have found its marks. In working without delay to the task, by multiplying the travel, abandoning his lyrical flights, he has broken the image of a distant head of the concerns of the man in the street, that denounced his critics. So the UMP deputies, who felt the haughty and contemptuous, the watch today with a certain kindness. In the latest barometer Ipsos, popularity is progressing even 11 points with the French, to 44. Dominique de Villepin can also boast of being able to handle the unlikely tandem with Nicolas Sarkozy, oppose the bubbling Minister of the Interior an Olympian calm. London, Monday, was the flagship of increased international cooperation against terrorism, a field occupied by one that is sometimes described as a "first a Minister".

New breath

But nothing is acquired. He climbs in the polls, Dominique de Villepin remained at a modest level for a Prime Minister at the beginning of lease. As Matignon apprehends the re-entry. The employment plan will not result before the end of the year, well after the Cape of 100 days set to restore confidence. And trade unions, poor before the summer, promised to take action in September against a Government which, in the words of Jean-Claude Mailly (FO), "wants to clean to the Kärcher the right to work". Subject: new contract hiring, but also the absence of measures to support the purchasing power and consumption. PS, happy to forget its internal divisions, is not at rest: as soon as its summer universities, from 26 to 28 August in La Rochelle, the party plans to draw the balance of "three years and 100 days" right. Without forgetting the UDF, well decided to play the card of differentiation to two years in the presidential election, as shows once again the last passes weapons on the privatization of highways.

This context encourages the Prime Minister to remain cautious, particularly as regards the public sector. It requires especially Dominique de Villepin to bring a new breath of here at the end of August. Hence this "second floor" study measures. But margins of budgetary manoeuvre being low, there is no great tax evening. Or stimulus by the application, as much that the situation is less bad than expected (see opposite). While working on new measures, Matignon is put in perspective the provisions already decided (tax credit on research, relief of loads, professional new investment tax credit), from the perspective of a structural support to the dear Thierry Breton growth. Ideas abound at Bercy.