“I’m no longer in office, I’m no longer a parliamentarian, I’m free.” Summoned to the Senate this Thursday, November 7 for a hearing on the public deficit slippageformer Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire brandished his “freedom of expression” and tried to defend his record… Starting with the assurance that the deficit to 6.1% of GDP by 2024 was “the choice of the current government” of Michel Barnier, not of the government of which he was a member. “I will bring you all the evidence that we could have had in 2024, with more vigorous recovery measures, a deficit of around 5.5%.”

Bruno Le Maire has also denied any “fault” or “deception” of the government of which he was a part, assuring that the deterioration in the public accounts would not be known before early December 2023, blaming the work of the administration. There has been “a serious technical error in assessing revenues”.he assured us, pointing out that “neither the cabinet nor the minister say a word”. on this assessment. However, the former minister insisted “assume all [ses] responsibilities” as “head of this finance administration.

More information to follow on Le Figaro…