France Set to Cut Budget Deficit Despite Security Expenses

Paris maintains its plan to reduce the budget deficit despite extra costs to boost security.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — France does not abandon its goal to reduce the budget deficit in 2016, despite the additional costs to step up security in the aftermath of the deadly Paris attacks, the country’s finance minister said Thursday.

"I do not see any obstacles in the budget to strengthen the internal or external security of the French citizens, but France will not give up the necessary task to reduce our deficit," Michel Sapin told BFMTV television.

Earlier in November, French authorities came up with proposals to introduce the measures reducing the deficit by 3.3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2016, and 2.7 percent in 2017, respectively.

On November 16, President Francois Hollande announced 8,500 new jobs in police and legal system over a terrorist threat.

Several days later, Sapin specified that Paris would spend some 600 million euros (over $642 million) to recruit additional law enforcement professionals.

The November 13 Paris attacks at a stadium, a concert hall and several restaurants left some 130 dead, with the Islamic State extremist group claiming responsibility for the tragedy.