Socialists prepare ‘crisis’ response

THE Socialist Party is to unveil its proposals for dealing with the economic crisis on Wednesday.

This will follow an initial press conference this afternoon by new Socialist leader Martine Aubry.

On Wednesday there will be a special national meeting of the party – put off from tomorrow so as not to clash with the inauguration of Barack Obama as US President.

Aubry will present the party’s alternatives to Sarkozy’s “economy relaunch” plan.

So far it is said debate has focussed on more use of the prime pour l’emploi (PPE) – a tax credit for working people on low incomes – and on a European approach.

However those of the left-wing would like to see salaries increased rather than measures like the PPE. The plan is also said to contain various “temporary crisis measures” which will help to get people spending more.

The cost of the plan would be €40 billion, the level proposed by the International Monetary Fund – that is two percent of GDP.

Following months of party in-fighting, notably between supporters of Aubry and those of former presidential candidate Ségolène Royal, Aubry has been trying to get everyone singing from the same hymn sheet.

After the main proposals were finalised last week, contact was made with supporters of Ségolène Royal before the final debate this Wednesday.

“In principle there are no major difficulties for us,” said one of Royal’s close supporters, Vincent Peillon.

Aubry has urged individual Socialists not just to publicise their opinions on matters whenever they feel like it, and said the party needs a stronger common line.

Photo:Afp/Guillaume Baptiste