The Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire assured Wednesday on BFMTV that the State had “3 billion euros in excess tax revenue” compared to its forecasts, while he was questioned about the slippage in the public deficit.
“I can already tell you that our tax revenues today are good. As I speak to you, we have 3 billion euros in excess tax revenue compared to what was forecast in May 2024. This is good news,” he said.
“We had an accident”
In 2023, the public deficit had slipped to 5.5% of GDP, more than expected by the government, which at the start of the year attributed this slippage to tax revenues of 21 billion euros lower than expected. last year.
“We had an accident. I readily admit it. In 2023, everyone has fallen on us. There was a revenue accident, we are at 5.5 (% of GDP) instead of being below 5″, recognized the minister, while France was singled out by the European Commission for its heavy public deficit.
“In 2024, we have made the necessary decisions to be at 5.1 (% of GDP). In 2025, we should be at 4.1% (…) in 2027, we will be at 3”, within the limits provided by the European Commission, he continued.
The minister, who is not running for the legislative elections, has also once again presented “the implementation of the program of the National Rally or the New Popular Front” as a scarecrow for the country’s finances.
“Either they lie and they will not do what they said and they will save money at the expense of the French or increase taxes to keep this objective below 3%. Either they are not lying and they will be, with supporting figures, above the 7% deficit in the years to come,” estimated Bruno Le Maire.
