It’s a bit like when the coach takes off his iconic player a few minutes before the end of the match. A way to offer an ovation after a hat-trick or to salute the immense career of a player who is about to leave. This Thursday, Bruno Le Maire decided to organize his exit himself. After seven years and four months at the Ministry of the Economy, Emmanuel Macron’s most loyal minister is preparing to leave his ministry with a final speech. And he won’t be alone.
According to several sources, Bruno Le Maire chose to invite hundreds of people to an unusual farewell ceremony organized at Bercy. Facing him were friends from politics, parliamentarians, close associates of the ministry, business leaders and representatives of professional federations. “He invited the entire world,” a close associate of the minister told our colleagues at The Tribune.
A week before the planned handover of power with the person who will replace him (yes, yes, the day will come, Michel Barnier promised it for next week), Bruno Le Maire wanted to mark his departure. More than his choice, it is also his longevity within the government that can be surprising. Appointed by Edouard Philippe on May 17, 2017, the Minister of the Economy has seen a succession of Prime Ministers: Edouard Philippe, then Jean Castex, then Élisabeth Borne and recently Gabriel Attal.
A deficit that has clearly widened
His detractors will not fail to criticize this farewell ceremony. During his last hearing at the National Assembly on the subject of the 2024 budget, the resigning but still in office minister was even called a “thief” by a member of parliament from La France Insoumise. “You stole the elections and you methodically stole the money of the French to offer it to the richest in this country,” denounced Aurélien Lecoq. The cause? The alarming figures of the public deficit.
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A few days ago, Bercy acknowledged that a “deficit slippage” was possible in 2024, putting forward the figure of 5.6% of GDP. The government’s forecasts had so far been capped at 5.1%. An already enormous deficit and very far from the 3% imposed by the European Union. The Court of Auditors has also warned France about its public spending.
A falling unemployment rate
Yes, but that’s not all, respond Bruno Le Maire’s defenders. During these seven years, the minister who defected from the Republicans also chose to pamper business leaders. During the Medef summer university, the boss of the bosses Patrick Martin congratulated Bruno Le Maire’s “constancy” and “courage”, reports Public SenateHe also managed to contribute to the reduction of the unemployment rate, down by more than two points (7.3%) compared to when he took office. Not enough to console his opponents.
