Arthur de Laborde // Photo credits:
modified to
7:55 a.m., April 12, 2024
In recent days, an unprecedented context of tensions has been created between Emmanuel Macron and Bruno Le Maire, the president believing that his Minister of the Economy has taken some liberties with regard to Bercy’s accounts. After a change of heart, the head of state began a reconciliation this Thursday.
An explosives factory, this is the setting chosen by Emmanuel Macron to stage his reconciliation with Bruno Le Maire. In recent days, the president has criticized the tenant of Bercy for being too anxious about the state of the public accounts and for multiplying proposals to fill budgetary holes without waiting for decisions from the Élysée. However, Emmanuel Macron assures him, he has no problem with his Minister of the Economy.
“There is no disagreement in the French Republic, the president declared this Thursday. There has never been one, because it doesn’t work like that, and because that’s not the way in which we have been working for seven years with the Minister of the Economy and Finance. One, we are staying on course with full employment, reindustrialization, rearmament of our public services. Two, we are immediately closing the hypothesis of saying that we are going to resolve this economic shock by more taxes”, Emmanuel Macron judging this as a “French disease”.
No tax increase: this is a point of agreement between the Head of State and Bruno Le Maire. On the other hand, in terms of form, the Minister of the Economy is pleading for an amending budget. No question, Emmanuel Macron replies: “Those who want amending finance bills, for many, it is to make additional taxes. Personally, I do not think that the answer is additional taxes.” Despite the perfect understanding displayed, some see it as an attack aimed at the boss of Bercy.