April 2025: New Regulations in France and the Conviction of Marine Le Pen

Social Welfare and Subsidies Adjustments

• Welfare Increases: Starting from April 1st, several social subsidies and benefits in France have been adjusted. Positively, the amounts of the Active Solidarity Income (RSA), the Employment Allowance (prime d’activité), the Adult Disability Allowance (AAH), and the Specific Solidarity Allowance (ASS) will be increased by 1.7% based on the average price index (excluding tobacco) from February 2024 to February 2025. This adjustment will bring an additional income of tens of euros per month to the beneficiaries.
• Reduced Compensation Measures: Also from April 1st, the calculation base of the Daily Guaranteed Allowance (IJSS) paid by social security will be reduced from 1.8 times the minimum wage (Smic) to 1.4 times. This means that those with wages between 1.4 and 1.8 times the minimum wage will face significant losses, and the daily allowance cap will be reduced to 41.47 euros. In addition, the unemployment compensation of the French Employment Center (Pôle Emploi) will be calculated based on 30 days only, resulting in a reduction of 5 to 6 days of compensation per year. Meanwhile, the maximum compensation period for unemployed people aged 53 or 54 will be shortened from 22.5 months to 18 months, and the minimum age for receiving the maximum 27 - month compensation will be raised from 55 to 57 years old.

Changes in the Real Estate Sector

• Expansion of Zero - Interest Loan Eligibility: From April 1st, the zero - interest loan (PTZ) will be expanded again. Until December 31st, 2027, it will be applicable to all newly - built housing nationwide, not just new apartments in tense areas. Moreover, this loan can be used for joint purchases and property division. The zero - interest loan is a loan without interest and fees, with a maximum repayment period of 25 years, designed specifically for first - time homebuyers, and certain income conditions need to be met.
• Increased Notary Fees: At the same time, notary fees (frais de notaire) will be a greater burden on homebuyers. From April 1st, each region can increase the real estate transfer tax (DMTO) by 0.5 percentage points until March 31st, 2028. These local taxes can account for 7% to 8% of the purchase price in second - hand housing transactions. Whether to implement this measure depends on the choice of the local government, which can also decide to apply a lower tax rate or exemption for first - time homebuyers.

Youth Health and Education

• Improved Dental Check - ups: In terms of youth health, the “M’T dents” program will provide annual preventive dental check - ups for young people aged 3 to 24, which was previously every three years. The program will also improve the coverage of oral examinations and treatment plans.
• Higher Education Application Deadline: In education, the Parcoursup higher education admission platform launched in 2018 has set an April 2nd deadline. Future high school graduates need to complete their applications and confirm a maximum of ten choices by this date.

Entertainment and Tourism

• Reopening of Outdoor Spaces: From April 1st to October 31st, bars and restaurants in Paris will reopen their outdoor terraces and other temporary outdoor spaces, but they must close by 10 p.m.
• Required ETA for Travel to the UK: From April 2nd, Europeans traveling to the UK will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). This process is similar to the US ESTA and needs to be completed in advance on the “UK ETA” app or the UK government website.

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The Conviction of Marine Le Pen and Public Opinion

• The Verdict: On March 31st, Marine Le Pen, the president of the National Rally (Rassemblement national) in France, was sentenced by the Paris Judicial Court (Tribunal judiciaire de Paris) to five years of ineligibility for public office, four years in prison, two of which are to be served with an electronic ankle bracelet, and a fine of 100,000 euros for the misuse of European Parliament assistant funds. Le Pen then condemned the verdict as a “political decision” and called it “a dark day for our democratic system”.
• Public Opinion Survey Results: However, a public opinion poll conducted by Elabe for BFMTV shows that most French people consider this judicial decision to be reasonable. According to the poll commissioned by BFMTV, 42% of the French are satisfied with this judicial verdict, 29% are dissatisfied, and 29% are indifferent. More than half of the French (57%) believe that, given the facts Le Pen is accused of, this judicial verdict is normal. However, 42% of the respondents also think that this verdict is influenced by the intention to prevent her from participating in the 2027 presidential election. In addition, two - thirds of the French (68%) believe that the application of the “temporary execution” rule in the case of conviction for the misuse of public funds is reasonable, which is in line with Le Pen's situation. After Le Pen's verdict, Jordan Bardella, the current president of the far - right party, claimed that “today, not only is Marine Le Pen unjustly tried, but French democracy has also been executed”, but 59% of the respondents do not agree with this statement. When asked whether Bardella will replace Le Pen in the presidential election, 57% of the French think he is Le Pen's best successor, of which 89% are the party's voters. More than two - thirds of people (67%) think that Bardella has as much or even more chance than Le Pen to make the party win the election, of which 81% are the party's voters.