Sarkozy targets excessive spending
Ministers ordered to cut air travel and play by the expenses rules as State should 'set an example' in economic crisis
THE FRENCH government is to cut back its spending on official cars and ministerial accommodation under new austerity measures announced by Nicolas Sarkozy.
The president has written to Prime Minister François Fillon calling for tougher controls on spending after a number of cases of ministerial excess were revealed in the press.
Among the proposed cuts include the sale of 10,000 cars used for official business and 7,000 apartments. The use of consultants will be limited and their pay reduced by 10%.
Ministers who choose to rent a private apartment in Paris instead of staying in official accommodation will no longer have their rent paid for them.
Other cutbacks include a ban on air travel if the journey is possible by rail in under three hours, and a target to reduce paper use in offices by half by 2012.
Sarkozy has also promised tougher sanctions for ministers who make excessive expenses claims and misuse public money.
The crackdown comes after Le Canard Enchaîné revealed that the minister in charge of the Grand Paris initiative, Christian Blanc, had used public money to stock up on €12,000 of cigars.
The paper also revealed that sports secretary Rama Yade and her team had planned to stay in a €555-a-night luxury hotel for the World Cup, despite her criticising the squad's only choice of "flashy" resort.
Sarkozy said: "At a time when our fellow citizens are hit by the economic crisis, the State must set an example more than ever."
The Elysée palace has already set an example by cancelling its traditional July 14 garden party, although Socialist politician Ségolène Royal has questioned whether the cancellation has come too late and some of the caterers will have to be paid compensation.
Photo:Medef
