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FRANCE

French MPs refuse to cut own pay

French lawmakers rejected a proposal on Monday to cut their own pay by 10 percent. They have however agreed to reduce the National Assembly's budget by three percent.

Published: 15 November 2011 11:38 CET

Thirty MPs had backed a proposal to cut their own salaries as the economic crisis hits France and the government ushers in austerity measures to reduce public deficits.

French right-wing lawmaker Lionnel Luca had tabled an amendment to the 2012 budget bill which reduced MPs’ salaries by 10 percent. His proposal has divided the right-wing UMP party with heavyweights UMP parliamentary group president Christian Jacob and National Assembly president Bernard Accoyer voting against the cuts.

Luca pleaded that in times of economic turmoil, MPs should lead the way and reduce their spending.

The Socialist party lawmakers abstained on Monday. Left-wing politicians accused UMP lawmakers who backed the proposal of pandering to populism. Socialist lawmaker Jean Launay said the amendment was “a gadget” that “lacked real political significance”.

Budget minister Valérie Pécressse has issued a statement saying there will be no salary cuts in 2012.

Luca said he would nevertheless cut his own salary by 10 percent.

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POLITICS

France vows to block EU-South America trade deal in current form

France has vowed to prevent a trade deal between the European Union and the South American Mercosur bloc from being signed with its current terms, as the country is rocked by farmer protests.

Published: 31 January 2024 15:46 CET
France vows to block EU-South America trade deal in current form

The trade deal, which would include agricultural powers Argentina and Brazil, is among a litany of complaints by farmers in France and elsewhere in Europe who have been blocking roads to demand better conditions for their sector.

They fear it would further depress their produce prices amid increased competition from exporting nations that are not bound by strict and costly EU environmental laws.

READ ALSO Should I cancel my trip to France because of farmers’ protests?

“This Mercosur deal, as it stands, is not good for our farmers. It cannot be signed as is, it won’t be signed as is,” Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire told broadcasters CNews and Europe 1.

The European Commission acknowledged on Tuesday that the conditions to conclude the deal with Mercosur, which also includes Paraguay and Uruguay, “are not quite there yet”.

The talks, however, are continuing, the commission said.

READ ALSO 5 minutes to understand French farmer protests

President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that France opposes the deal because it “doesn’t make Mercosur farmers and companies abide by the same rules as ours”.

The EU and the South American nations have been negotiating since 2000.

The contours of a deal were agreed in 2019, but a final version still needs to be ratified.

The accord aims to cut import tariffs on – mostly European – industrial and pharmaceutical goods, and on agricultural products.

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