The French cannot be asked to finance companies if companies are asked not to pay dividends

Before the coronavirus crisis, one of France’s economic policy objectives was to channel the French population’s savings more towards corporate financing, based on the observation that the proportion of risk-free financial assets in the population’s wealth was too high. In order to channel more savings to companies, the tax on capital income was lowered, the financial wealth tax was abolished, new financial products were created (retirement savings plans, PER), a funded pension pillar was planned and unit-linked life insurance inflows were supported. It is therefore surprising to see that dividend payments are now being criticised and that many are calling for a reduction or cancellation of dividends beyond what is justified by the company's situation, as a matter of principle. How can the French be convinced to lend their savings to companies if there is such political and not just economic insecurity about the income from their savings?