PARIS — France’s freshly-appointed Prime Minister Michel Barnier has hinted at possible tax raises to stop the country’s debt from growing.
“I don’t want to raise the debt of our country,” Barnier told television network TF1 on Friday evening in his first interview since his appointment, stressing that France should stop adding financial burden to future generations.
Barnier made the case for greater “justice” in France’s taxation system, but declined to further elaborate on whether that meant higher taxes for companies or wealthier individuals.
“The French want and need more justice,” he said, noting that, in parallel, his government will “make efforts to have a better use of public money.”
France is currently facing a so-called excessive deficit procedure in Brussels for overspending last year. France’s deficit ― the difference between how much it spends and how much it brings in ― could reach 5.6 percent of GDP this year, 0.5 percent higher than previously predicted.
In an effort to reduce public spending, French President Emmanuel Macron last year passed his controversial pensions reform which raised the legal age of retirement from 62 to 64.
Barnier on Friday promised not challenge the basics of the pension reform, but to instead launch a debate on how to improve it.
The new prime minister — who is staunchly conservative — made clear his government “will not only be a right-wing government,” and will likely include some outgoing ministers from Macron’s camp. He didn’t rule out having left-wing ministers.
While some left-leaning voters might be pleased with his pledge of “justice in taxation,” Barnier has also played for those across the aisle by promising stricter migration policy.
Barnier was appointed on Thursday after a July snap election resulted in a hung parliament.
The left-wing New Popular Front alliance, which has the largest number of seats in parliament, announced that it will try to bring down the government in a no-confidence vote. For now, Barnier appears to have the backing of Macron’s centrists, the right-wing Republicans and the tacit support of the far-right National Rally.
He said that he will govern with “a new method” and ruled out clashes with Macron. “The President must preside, the government must govern,” he said.
