Bruno Le Maire Defends Record Amid France's Budget Deficit Crisis

The former Finance Minister attributes the deficit to current government choices, defending his tenure against accusations of mismanagement.

Bruno Le Maire, former French Finance Minister, faced Senate scrutiny over a rising budget deficit, defending his record and attributing the issue to the current government's decisions.
Le Maire argued that if his proposed measures had been implemented, the deficit could have been limited to 5.5% instead of the projected 6.1% for 2024.
He denied any wrongdoing or intentional misinformation, citing a technical error in revenue forecasts as a key factor in the deficit increase.
The deficit's rise is partly attributed to reduced fiscal revenues following years of high post-Covid tax income, with a shortfall of approximately 41 billion euros.
A commission of inquiry is set to further investigate the deficit's causes, with upcoming testimonies from other key figures in the previous and current administrations.