Former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal addressed senators about the troubling state of France’s public finances, emphasizing his commitment to implementing “strong decisions” during his tenure. He defended his administration’s handling of budgetary issues amid criticism from senators, particularly regarding a €50 billion deficit gap. Attal attributed the financial slip to revenue challenges rather than spending increases, while also supporting former Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire against accusations of mismanagement. Current deficit projections remain concerning, with recovery not expected until 2029.
Former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal Addresses Public Accounts Concerns
This Friday morning, Gabriel Attal, the former Prime Minister and current deputy from Hauts-de-Seine, took center stage before senators as part of an information mission focusing on the alarming state of public finances since 2023. Attal expressed his commitment to enacting “strong decisions” during his tenure at Matignon to address the growing budgetary concerns, which parliamentarians are currently scrutinizing. They argue that the government failed to act on critical information regarding financial deterioration in a timely manner.
“We received alerts regarding the decline of France’s public finances,” Attal stated confidently. “In response, we made what I believe were strong decisions.” He detailed the measures taken, including revising the growth forecast, adjusting the deficit target, and implementing €20 billion in savings within the year. Additionally, he announced plans for a state budget that included €15 billion in savings. “I truly believe that no previous government has identified and executed such significant savings in such a short timeframe,” he stressed, noting his acute awareness of the pressures on public finances during his time in office.
Contentious Debate with Senators
The dialogue between Attal and the senators was intense, particularly with LR member François Husson, who criticized the government’s management of finances. “This is completely going off the rails! A €50 billion gap in just nine months indicates a lack of rigor in managing our accounts,” Husson declared. The rapporteur accused Attal of initiating a series of “new expenditures” totaling €5 billion, pointing to emergency aid for the organic sector, energy check payments, and other financial commitments, including salary increases in early childhood sectors and support for Ukraine.
In response, Attal challenged Husson to specify which expenditures had negatively impacted the 2024 balance, asserting that the budgetary slip stemmed from revenue issues rather than excessive spending. While refusing to engage in a trivial back-and-forth, Husson questioned whether Attal was “in a state of denial,” without addressing the former Prime Minister’s repeated inquiries.
Attal also condemned what he termed the “political and media trial” against former Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire, commending his dedication to tackling France’s debt. The Senate, previously critical of Bercy and Le Maire, accused him of insincerity and a lack of transparency toward Parliament. Just the day before, Le Maire defended himself against any claims of wrongdoing regarding the notable decline in France’s public finances.
Current projections indicate that the public deficit will reach 6.1% of the gross domestic product (GDP) this year, a stark contrast to the 4.4% forecasted in the fall of 2023 and the 5.1% projected in the spring. The deficit is not expected to drop below the EU’s 3% GDP threshold until 2029, positioning France as a laggard among European nations.
On November 15, former Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne is set to face similar questioning from senators as part of this ongoing information mission, with the National Assembly also planning to conduct inquiries in the coming months.