Finance

TotalEnergies CEO indicates proposed French supertax on big companies is not workable

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on October 30, 2025

1 min read

· Last updated: January 21, 2026

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TotalEnergies CEO indicates proposed French supertax on big companies is not workable
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PARIS (Reuters) -French oil major TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne indicated on Thursday that a proposed French supertax on multinationals would not comply with the rule of law and would contravene

TotalEnergies CEO Questions Viability of Proposed French Supertax

TotalEnergies and the Proposed Supertax

PARIS (Reuters) -French oil major TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne indicated on Thursday that a proposed French supertax on multinationals would not comply with the rule of law and would contravene policies that aim to avoid double taxation for big companies.

Details of the Tax Hikes

French lawmakers on Tuesday approved two surprise tax hikes on multinational companies, including a new levy based on global revenues and the doubling of an existing digital tax.

Political Reactions and Implications

The amendments - which defy Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's government corporate tax policies - were both passed during the budget bill's first reading in the lower house, with support from the far-right and hard-left parties. They could still be struck down later in the legislative process.

(Reporting by America Hernandez; editing by GV De Clercq and Bernadette Baum)

Key Takeaways

  • TotalEnergies CEO questions the legality of the proposed supertax.
  • French lawmakers approved tax hikes on multinationals.
  • The new levy is based on global revenues.
  • The tax changes defy the government’s corporate tax policies.
  • The amendments may be overturned in the legislative process.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a multinational corporation?
A multinational corporation is a company that operates in multiple countries, managing production or delivering services in more than one nation. They often have a centralized head office.
What is economic growth?
Economic growth is the increase in the production of goods and services in an economy over a period of time, typically measured by the rise in gross domestic product (GDP).
What is a financial crisis?
A financial crisis is a situation in which the value of financial institutions or assets drops significantly, leading to a loss of confidence and potential economic downturn.

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