Debt of France: the Court of Auditors sounds the alarm

Elise Denjean 1:56 p.m., February 16, 2022

France must pay attention to its public accounts.

The Court of Auditors has unveiled its annual report and we find ourselves in a bright orange zone, not to say red.

France's structural deficit has indeed doubled compared to 2019 as a result of the various measures put in place during the health crisis. 

Nine billion euros in savings

If the sages of the rue Cambon recognize the absolute necessity of "whatever the cost", they recall the consequences of this strategy.

France's structural deficit has doubled compared to 2019 as a result of the various measures put in place during the health crisis.

The public debt, meanwhile, is sixteen points higher than it was before the crisis.

It will therefore be necessary, to achieve the government's objective of bringing the public deficit below 3% in 2027, to achieve nearly nine billion euros in savings each year.

>> Find Europe midi in replay and podcast here 

"Controls need to be improved"

The Court makes concrete proposals.

It recommends reforms, in particular on the pension system, health insurance, employment policy and social minima.

And above all, it will be necessary to better target and monitor the policies put in place during the crisis. 

"I think that when you spend a lot, you have to spend well. For me, control is not a luxury, it's necessary. Let's take the example of PGEs, loans guaranteed by the State. They are beneficial to our companies, but there may have been fraud and windfall effects. We must improve controls and ensure that public money has traceability", explains Pierre Moscovici, first president of the Court of Auditors.  

Other concrete measures: better control the financing of nursing homes or even increase the price of the Navigo pass for transport users in Ile-de-France.