France's military will cut almost 8,000 jobs next year, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Thursday, detailing government belt-tightening plans that the far-right hopes will deliver it votes at municipal elections in 2014, reports Reuters.
The cuts come as tensions rise within the 17-month-old coalition of Socialist President Francois Hollande, whose satisfaction ratings have fallen to 23 percent due to concerns about a stalled economy and high unemployment.
The Defence Ministry said in April that 34,000 jobs would likely be cut over the coming six years. But its overall budget will remain largely static after military officials and lawmakers said drastic spending cuts would reduce France's ability to counter global security threats.
Speaking at a news conference, Le Drian said 7,881 jobs would be cut next year, and defended the tight budget.
"The army model that we are now developing will enable France to have the leading army in Europe by 2019, in terms of numbers and efficiency," Le Drian said.
A handful of bases will be closed or restructured. One 800-man regiment will be dissolved in southern France with another moved from the town of Orange in the Vaucluse department, where support for the anti-immigrant, anti-European Union National Front is strong.
Read more of this report from Reuters.