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Affinité politique

🛒 Issue

Work and cost of living: what each candidate thinks

By Fadrique Garcia Font · Reviewed on 19/10/2026

A minimum wage of 1,600 euros after deductions, keeping the 35-hour week, VAT on energy and motor fuel, how long unemployment benefits last and rent controls.

5 questions, 55 candidate positions and 2 complete disagreements (how they are assigned).

What each candidate proposes on this issue

A summary of their positions on the questions in this issue, based on their programmes, statements and the votes of their party’s group. Details and sources, question by question, below.

Attal

Agrees: “Unemployment benefits should be paid for a shorter time, to encourage people back into work”

Disagrees: “The minimum wage (SMIC) should be raised to at least 1,600 euros a month after deductions”; “The legal working week should stay at 35 hours”; “VAT on electricity, gas and motor fuel should be cut”; “Rent controls should apply in all large cities”

Dupont-Aignan

Agrees: “The legal working week should stay at 35 hours”; “VAT on electricity, gas and motor fuel should be cut”

Disagrees: “The minimum wage (SMIC) should be raised to at least 1,600 euros a month after deductions”; “Rent controls should apply in all large cities”

In between: “Unemployment benefits should be paid for a shorter time, to encourage people back into work”

Glucksmann

Agrees: “The minimum wage (SMIC) should be raised to at least 1,600 euros a month after deductions”; “The legal working week should stay at 35 hours”; “Rent controls should apply in all large cities”

Disagrees: “Unemployment benefits should be paid for a shorter time, to encourage people back into work”

In between: “VAT on electricity, gas and motor fuel should be cut”

Le Pen

Agrees: “The legal working week should stay at 35 hours”; “VAT on electricity, gas and motor fuel should be cut”

Disagrees: “The minimum wage (SMIC) should be raised to at least 1,600 euros a month after deductions”; “Unemployment benefits should be paid for a shorter time, to encourage people back into work”

In between: “Rent controls should apply in all large cities”

Lisnard

Agrees: “Unemployment benefits should be paid for a shorter time, to encourage people back into work”

Disagrees: “The minimum wage (SMIC) should be raised to at least 1,600 euros a month after deductions”; “The legal working week should stay at 35 hours”; “Rent controls should apply in all large cities”

In between: “VAT on electricity, gas and motor fuel should be cut”

Mélenchon

Agrees: “The minimum wage (SMIC) should be raised to at least 1,600 euros a month after deductions”; “The legal working week should stay at 35 hours”; “VAT on electricity, gas and motor fuel should be cut”; “Rent controls should apply in all large cities”

Disagrees: “Unemployment benefits should be paid for a shorter time, to encourage people back into work”

Philippe

Agrees: “Unemployment benefits should be paid for a shorter time, to encourage people back into work”

Disagrees: “The minimum wage (SMIC) should be raised to at least 1,600 euros a month after deductions”; “The legal working week should stay at 35 hours”; “VAT on electricity, gas and motor fuel should be cut”; “Rent controls should apply in all large cities”

Retailleau

Agrees: “Unemployment benefits should be paid for a shorter time, to encourage people back into work”

Disagrees: “The minimum wage (SMIC) should be raised to at least 1,600 euros a month after deductions”; “The legal working week should stay at 35 hours”; “VAT on electricity, gas and motor fuel should be cut”; “Rent controls should apply in all large cities”

Roussel

Agrees: “The minimum wage (SMIC) should be raised to at least 1,600 euros a month after deductions”; “The legal working week should stay at 35 hours”; “VAT on electricity, gas and motor fuel should be cut”; “Rent controls should apply in all large cities”

Disagrees: “Unemployment benefits should be paid for a shorter time, to encourage people back into work”

Tondelier

Agrees: “The minimum wage (SMIC) should be raised to at least 1,600 euros a month after deductions”; “The legal working week should stay at 35 hours”; “Rent controls should apply in all large cities”

Disagrees: “VAT on electricity, gas and motor fuel should be cut”; “Unemployment benefits should be paid for a shorter time, to encourage people back into work”

Zemmour

Agrees: “VAT on electricity, gas and motor fuel should be cut”; “Unemployment benefits should be paid for a shorter time, to encourage people back into work”

Disagrees: “The minimum wage (SMIC) should be raised to at least 1,600 euros a month after deductions”; “Rent controls should apply in all large cities”

In between: “The legal working week should stay at 35 hours”

The minimum wage (SMIC) should be raised to at least 1,600 euros a month after deductions.

The SMIC is the legal minimum wage. For a full-time job, it is a little over 1,400 euros a month after deductions.

Of the 11 candidates with a position on this question: 4 in favour, 0 in between and 7 against.

The legal working week should stay at 35 hours.

Since 2000 the legal working week has been 35 hours. Hours worked beyond that are overtime, paid at a higher rate.

Of the 11 candidates with a position on this question: 6 in favour, 1 in between and 4 against.

VAT on electricity, gas and motor fuel should be cut.

Motor fuel and household electricity and gas are charged at the standard 20% VAT rate, on top of other energy taxes.

Of the 11 candidates with a position on this question: 5 in favour, 2 in between and 4 against.

Unemployment benefits should be paid for a shorter time, to encourage people back into work.

Since 2023 the maximum period of benefit has been cut by a quarter: it is 18 months for people under 53.

Of the 11 candidates with a position on this question: 5 in favour, 1 in between and 5 against.

Rent controls should apply in all large cities.

Rent control sets a ceiling depending on the area and the type of home. It has been trialled since 2019 in a few cities that opted in, such as Paris, Lyon and Lille.

Of the 11 candidates with a position on this question: 4 in favour, 1 in between and 6 against.

Explore other issues

💰 Economy, taxes and debt 👵 Pensions 🏥 Health 🌍 Immigration ⚖️ Security and justice 🎓 Education and youth 🌱 Energy, climate and farming 🇪🇺 Europe 🛡️ Foreign affairs and defence 🏛️ Institutions and democracy 🤝 Society, secularism and regions

Who do you agree with on this issue?

The questions in this issue are part of the full test. On 2 of them the candidates hold opposite positions, so your answer matters.

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