New French prime minister Michel Barnier was saddled with the dirty job of putting France's precarious public finances back on track, reports Politico.
But heavyweights from French president Emmanuel Macron's might make that job more difficult. They are accusing Barnier of plotting to raise taxes and threatening not to support his future government if he does so.
"It is out of the question for us to join a government ... that raises taxes," outgoing interior minister Gérald Darmanin said on Wednesday in an interview with French broadcaster France 2. Darmanin added that in a private meeting, Barnier discussed the possibility of tax hikes.
France's new prime minister has not yet presented his government or its program, but he already started working on France's next budget, looking for ways to cut the country's massive debt.
"Michel Barnier even said he was in favor of tax justice. Usually, when you say you're in favor of tax justice, it means you're in favor of raising taxes," Darmanin added.