Eric Woerth, in Port-Marly on August 1, 2020. -

Jacques Witt / SIPA

Coronavirus requires, the government had to implement an exceptional stimulus plan to limit the impact of the health crisis on the economy.

But these expenses will have repercussions on the finances of the State which do not fail to raise the debate in the National Assembly.

The chairman of the Finance Committee, Eric Woerth (LR), thus calls in an interview with the

JDD for

a better "framing" in the face of the risk of a debt transformed into a "time bomb".

"A phantom budget"

"It is a phantom budget, because we add every day additional operating expenses unrelated to the crisis, without counterparts and without funding," points out the former Budget Minister.

“Beware of the major risk of forward flight.

Of course, we are in a situation which requires substantial public support.

But we need a framework, otherwise it is the policy of "muddle" ", he warns, stressing that" the government cannot create a planning commission and not plan anything itself ".

The government will present its draft budget for 2021 on Monday, which will give pride of place to the recovery plan of 100 billion euros over two years, in a context of record economic crisis that has relegated deficit reduction to the background.

The deputy for Oise will vote on the recovery plan which is included in the 2021 budget but he warns: "there is a risk: that we get used to debt".

"Navigating in heavy weather while burning your ships is dangerously contradictory," warns Eric Woerth.

Debate on the Maastrich criteria

The former minister is however speaking out to review the rules of budgetary discipline as they existed in the EU before their suspension due to the Covid-19 crisis.

“Even if this is not the first emergency, we must review these Maastricht criteria which no longer have any meaning: for example, not to exceed 60% of debt, what does that mean when our debt peaks at 120%?

», He asks.

And to note: “All countries are in debt.

But that's no reason to ignore the debt ”.

The French Secretary of State for European Affairs, Clément Beaune, also said he was opposed to the return of pre-crisis European budgetary rules.

Economy

French public debt at a record level of 114.1% of GDP, end of June

Society

"The most precarious are not the government's priority," said Najat Vallaud-Belkacem

  • Coronavirus

  • Debt

  • Public deficit

  • Eric Woerth

  • Recovery plan

  • Public finances

  • Economy