AFP and Europa Press
The newspaper La Jornada
Monday, September 23, 2024, p. 28
Paris. French Prime Minister Michel Barnier yesterday called for a national effort to reduce the public sector deficit, but without increase taxes on all citizens.
Much of our debt is issued by international, foreign markets, we must preserve France’s credibility.Barnier told France 2, a day after President Emmanuel Macron appointed a new government and thousands of people took to the streets to reject it for its right-wing leanings.
The country’s deficit has increased in recent years and now stands at more than 5 percent of GDP, despite the European Union (EU) requiring its members to keep their deficit below 3 percent.
Barnier said he would ask for the richest to take their part in the solidarity effortwithout Increase taxes for all French citizens, who are the ones who pay the most among all European partnershe noted.
He assured that there is no cohabitationas it is known in France to the political moment in which a president of one political party and a prime minister of another coexist.
What interests me is that all initiatives are expressed. We are not in cohabitation and at the same time there is no majority. I have tried to generate a base, which is the most important thing for the Fifth Republic, and at the same time this base will be open.he explained.
Barnier is due to present his 2025 budget plan.
France faces several EU lawsuits for violating budget rules.
Barnier’s new government has 39 members, mainly from Macron’s centre-right alliance and the conservative opposition party Les Républiques (LR), which is returning to power after 12 years.
Macron, whose mandate ends in 2027, opted for Barnier to form a government, considering that the former European negotiator of the Brexita member of LR, could guarantee a more stable majority in the divided National Assembly (lower house).
But the left-wing coalition New Popular Front has already announced that it will table a motion of no confidence against Barnier’s government, which could be successful if the far right votes in favour.