lefigaro.fr
French Government Divided on Budget Proposals
French Prime Minister Michel Barnier expresses reservations about proposals to remove a public holiday and increase annual work hours to boost government revenue, contrasting with other ministers' support.
French
France
PoliticsEconomyLabour MarketFranceGovernmentBudget
French GovernmentSenateOuest-FranceSud RadioFranceinfo
Michel BarnierAntoine ArmandLaurent Saint-MartinMaud Bregeon
- What is the Prime Minister's stance on these proposals?
- Barnier's concerns stem from doubts about the proposals' effectiveness and complexity of implementation, contrasting with the views of ministers Antoine Armand and Laurent Saint-Martin who support the measures.
- What are the two main proposals discussed in the article?
- The French Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, expressed reservations about two proposals aimed at increasing government revenue: removing a public holiday and increasing the annual work hours by seven hours.
- What are the estimated financial gains from each proposal?
- While a Senate report estimated significant revenue gains from both proposals (2.4 to 3.3 billion euros for removing a holiday and 2.5 billion for increased work hours), Barnier remains hesitant due to implementation challenges and uncertain financial returns.
- What is the current status of the proposals within the government?
- Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon confirmed that adding a second solidarity day is unlikely, but the seven-hour work increase proposal remains under consideration, suggesting an ongoing internal debate within the government.
- What are the opinions of other government ministers on these proposals?
- Despite Barnier's reservations, he remains open to parliamentary debate and further discussion on the proposals, indicating a willingness to consider alternative solutions for addressing financial shortfalls.