PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron lauded a controversial budget for next year put forward by Prime Minister François Bayrou as a courageous step toward righting the country’s finances.
Government spokesperson Sophie Primas told reporters Wednesday that during the weekly Cabinet meeting, Macron told Bayrou and other government ministers that the plans unveiled Tuesday — which include getting rid of two public holidays, slashing thousands of public service jobs and axing €5 billion in health care spending — had “the virtue of courage, audacity and lucidity.”
Primas said Macron appreciated the fact that the budget plan prioritized economic growth, a possible reference to the fact that the proposal did not include tax hikes. The prime minister did, however, say the government would be asking for one-time “solidarity contribution” from high earners.