French PM mulls referendum on major deficit-reduction plan
In a newspaper interview François Bayrou said he did not rule out a national referendum on a comprehensive plan to reduce France’s debt and bring the public deficit below 3 percent of GDP.
FrenchFrench prime minister François Bayrou has raised the possibility of holding a national referendum on a comprehensive plan to reduce France’s debt and bring the public deficit below 3 percent of GDP, a threshold set by European fiscal rules, reports Yahoo! News.
In an interview with the Journal du Dimanche published Saturday, Bayrou said the gravity of the issue and its consequences for the nation’s future warranted a direct consultation with citizens.
“I believe the question is serious enough, with far-reaching consequences for the country’s future, that it should be put directly to the people. I do not rule out any possibility,” he said.
Bayrou emphasized that the plan would require efforts from everyone and could only succeed with broad public support.
