Raffarin’s priorities

France’s new prime Minister explains his objectives in the coming months.

One week after being nominated the successor to Lionel Jospin as France’s Prime Minister, during which he was faced with the diplomatic crisis in Pakistan, Jean-Pierre Raffarin sets out his objectives.

The main issue is the legislative elections on 9th and 16th June but during the next two months, Raffarin wants to be more than a temporary stop-gap. He has created a new super-ministry, of Justice and Social Security, which is being run by the number two in the French government, Nicolas Sarkozy, who accompanied a police team on its night rounds around Paris.

In fiscal matters, the Finance Minister, Francis Mer, is studying a plan to reduce taxes by 5% by the end of the year.

Emilie ACQUITAINE PRAVDA.Ru PARIS FRANCE