Macron hits out at ‘hypocrite’ minister for Thatcherite plan

EMMANUEL MACRON reportedly branded his finance minister a hypocrite for urging a “Thatcherite” overhaul of France’s “nanny state” despite the fact that he has presided over a massive rise in the nation’s debt and deficit.

Bruno Le Maire warned last month in a book that the French welfare state has become “a machine for piling up new public expenditure”, “a system that has become uncontrollable” and whose “ultimate goal is free everything, for everyone, all the time: it’s untenable!”.

In The French Way, which many believe is an early presidential manifesto before the 2027 election, the 54-year-old insists it is time to “replace the welfare state with a protective state”, urging cuts in health spending. France will never get rid of high unemployment without cutting France’s cushy dole system compared to other countries, he also argues.

Unions blasted the work as a “Thatcherite” act of war.

However, it later emerged that France’s budget deficit last year was far higher than forecast (5.5 per cent of GDP) with debt at 110.6 per cent, third in Europe only to Italy and Greece.

Pierre Moscovici, France’s state auditor chief, warned that it was “very, very rare” for a government to get its deficit forecast so wrong.

With his reformist credentials on the line, Mr Macron reportedly saw red, effectively branding his outspoken finance minister a “hypocrite” at a crisis meeting on the issue, according to a report in Le Figaro published on Friday.

“Bruno, it has to be said that you’ve been in this job for seven years!” reportedly exclaimed the irate French president by way of a put-down.

Sources told Le Figaro the level of irritation was evident as Mr Macron used the impersonal “tu” form and “almost never addresses his ministers by their first names in the formal setting of meetings at the Élysée Palace”.

Unnamed ministers then stuck in the knife with one criticising Mr Le Maire’s “discourse that consists of saying ‘I’m the only one who’s serious and nobody listens to me’, when it’s been his portfolio for seven years”.

“We’re not talking about a whistleblower taking refuge in an embassy!” the minister is cited as telling Le Figaro.

Another added: “He has pursued an effective economic policy, with results, but his entire record is going up in smoke because of zero credibility on public finances. He’s accountable for that, so he’s on the defensive. He has no choice.”

Mr Le Maire oversaw massive state spending to keep companies afloat during the Covid crisis “whatever it costs”. However, his entourage says he then tried to cut spending but was overruled by Mr Macron with more millions handed out to the French to endure inflation and rising living costs.