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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 5 July 2017
French PM wins confidence vote, vows to cut budget deficit

ing Macron, French vot- Philippe pushed for the and controlling illegal immi-
ers showed they “are at- labor reform Macron has gration, Philippe said. The
tached to the European promised to pass by the end French government wants
Union and the euro. They of the summer that aims to to reduce the asylum ap-
want a more concrete, less boost job creation, since plication procedure from
fussy and more protective French unemployment has 14 months now to 6 months
Europe.” He detailed the been hovering around 10 and be able to deport
government’s agenda in percent for years. Unions, those who are not granted
the next months and years, however, fear it strips hard- asylum.
from health to education earned worker protections. In an effort to keep fight-
and job policies. He nota- The government next week ing terrorists, France’s mili-
bly wants to raise the price will outline new measures tary budget next year will
of a cigarette pack to 10 to handle Europe’s migrant increase spending on de-
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe delivers a speech
during a confidence vote debate at the national assembly in euros ($11.35) — up from crisis, seeking a balance fense to 2 percent of GDP
Paris, France, Tuesday, July 7, 2017. about 7 euros ($8) now. between helping refugees by 2025.q
(AP Photo/Michel Euler)
By SYLVIE CORBET
Associated Press
PARIS (AP) — France’s
prime minister overwhelm-
ingly won a confidence
vote in the National As-
sembly on Tuesday after
vowing to bring the coun-
try’s budget deficit under
the European Union limit of
3 percent this year without
raising taxes.
Prime Minister Edouard
Philippe told lawmakers
that France’s debt had
reached “an unbearable
level,” putting the country
“at the mercy of financial
markets.” He said there
will be expenses cuts but
pledged not to raise taxes.
Philippe won the vote in
France’s lower house of
parliament by 370-67. Be-
sides getting support from
President Emmanuel Ma-
cron’s party — which has a
wide majority after a land-
slide win last month — he
also got votes from centrist
allies and even some con-
servative lawmakers.
“The truth is that while our
German neighbors raise
100 euros in taxes and
spend 98, we are raising
117 euros and are spend-
ing 125. Who can think this
situation is sustainable?”
he said.
Philippe pledged to stop
increasing the number of
state employees, to fo-
cus the government on its
main priorities and to stop
spending money on poli-
cies that don’t deliver re-
sults.
Last week the country’s
national audit office said
France’s budget deficit
could reach 3.2 percent —
above the EU limit for the
10th consecutive year in
2017 — if no measures are
taken.
Philippe said by choos-