Paris (AFP)
Total containment would cost the French economy 2 to 2.5 points of GDP per month, said Minister of Public Accounts Olivier Dussopt on Wednesday, while the possibility of a less strict re-containment than in the spring is not dismissed by the government to deal with the epidemic.
"When activity stops for a whole month, it is between 2 and 2.5 points of GDP that we lose. It is more than 10 billion euros of intervention expenditure and it is at least 10 billion euros in lost tax revenue, "the minister explained on Sud Radio.
He said that, since the start of the crisis, the state had garnered 70 billion euros in less tax revenue.
The President of the Republic chairs a new Defense Council on Wednesday morning to decide on new restrictive measures in the face of the second epidemic wave and must speak at 8:00 p.m. on television.
In recent days, the executive is preparing the French for "difficult" measures, in the words of Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, which could go as far as a re-containment.
If such a measure were decided, the government would further strengthen support for the most affected companies, assured Mr. Dussopt.
"We are preparing the measures that will be necessary to support the economy whatever measures are taken," he said.
This would also lead the government to worsen its economic forecasts for 2020: it is currently counting on a 10% recession and a public deficit of over 10.2%.
© 2020 AFP