Notwithstanding the recent public criticism of the socialist government’s austerity policies by a number of cabinet ministers, President François Hollande has reiterated his commitment to bugetary austerity and deficit reduction.
The French president is allowing his ministers to speak out in favour of a more flexible economic policy in a bid to avoid driving “a depressed public further into dispair,” notes the daily. However, this “tactical manoeuvre [...] could prove to be terribly counter-productive,” notably because it “fudges” the government’s message.
At the same time, Libération wonders if there will be a change in policy when growth forecasts are submitted to Brussels at the end of April.