PARIS, June 30 (Reuters) - France lifted its debt forecasts
on Wednesday as data showed measures to stimulate the economy
had lifted public debt at the end of the first quarter to more
than 80 percent of gross domestic product.
The budget ministry forecast France's public debt would rise
to 83.7 percent of GDP in 2010 before climbing to 86.5 percent
in 2011, 87.5 percent in 2012 and 87 percent in 2013.
It had previously forecast debt at 83.2 percent of GDP in
2010, rising to 86.6 percent in 2013.
At a cabinet meeting on Wednesday Budget Minister Francois
Baroin presented plans to find an extra 10 billion euros ($12.20
billion) in savings over three years.
Baroin set out 150 measures aimed at bringing a "major
contribution to straightening up public finances," as well as
improving the quality of public services.
Civil servant jobs in particular are targeted, according to
a 250-page document released by the budget ministry. It
confirmed plans to ensure that one out of every two civil
servants taking retirement will not be replaced, representing
savings of three billion euros.
The number of civil servants would fall by an extra 100,000
from 2011 to 2013. This would bring the number of civil servants
to its 1990 level by the next presidential election in mid-2012.
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