If some moves tick all the political boxes, the French government’s plan to eliminate an annual €138 audiovisual tax is surely one of them. Coming at the expense of institutions accused by some of elitism and progressive monoculture, it promises much-needed relief for average French taxpayers trapped in an inflationary crunch. Two weeks after President Emmanuel Macron’s coalition lost its absolute majority in the National Assembly, the move builds an early bridge with the right-wing opposition.

Announced on the campaign trail this spring, the reform is part of a highly anticipated cost-of-living package, as annual inflation in France is expected to reach 7 percent by September. On Wednesday, the government — for now headed by Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne — will present a series of measures aimed at protecting French consumers’ purchasing power. This will include extending a price freeze on heating gasoline, tweaking payroll taxes, and relaunching a one-off stimulus check for essential goods. If it passes muster, the package will be the first major bill to emerge from the fragmented new parliament elected in June.

Paid by households in possession of a television set — and waivable for those without one, alongside low earners — the contribution à l’audiovisual public finances France’s well-developed offering of public service radio and television. Upward of twenty-three million households pay the fee, which provides over €3 billion in annual funding to the three flagship public broadcasting organizations: Radio France, France Télévisions, and France Médias Monde.