Marianne Björklund: Macron risk of new criticism

With a range of christmas gifts for the people sought to Emmanuel Macron on Monday to calm down the lawsuits in France. After the Yellow vests in four Saturdays in a row taken to the streets to protest against the French president's policy, he saw no other way back.

is not free. In total the planned measures burdening the treasury with 8-10 billion, and so far the French government has not set out how this gap should be filled. As the protesters want, and to reintroduce the wealth tax, does not seem current. According to Macron scares a wealth tax, which collected 4 billion a year, away important investments in France.

When Macros went to the election, he stressed the importance of the country re-establish budgetary discipline. France would, after several years of having violated the EU's rules on budget deficit not exceeding 3 per cent of GDP, will again become a good student, he said. And the promise fulfilled. Higher taxes and increased growth meant that France's budget deficit low at below 3 percent for the first time in almost ten years last year.

that it would continue in that direction. To keep track of finances was important for the Macron, not least in order to impress on the economically stringent Germany that he wants to have with you on the train to get through the major reforms to the EUROPEAN union.

But now has the glory of Macron as a star on the EUROPEAN sky faded. He has been shown to have poor contact with their own constituents. In addition, Monday's attempt to appease the protesters throw the plan for a budget deficit of 2.8 percent of GDP next year.

raise the minimum wage and tax credits for low-income and charged to the budget is burdened also the target of the protests has decreased the momentum of the economy at the end of the year. Four weekends in a row, parts of France paralysed when the occasionally violent demonstrators taken to the streets and squares. The Bank of France lowered on Monday its growth forecast for France in the last quarter of the year, and retailers have stated that their sales have been 20 per cent lower than normal for the past weekends.

The French government is of course aware of the costs. But the protest has forced it to look inwards.

" We are not saying that the long-term debt is not a problem. But the first priority is not to discuss this with Brussels, but with the French people, said the energy minister, Francois de Rugy to the French radio.

manages to calm down the mood of the show itself on Saturday. Cheers from the diverse crowd that represents the Yellow vests have failed and several have announced that they intend to continue the protest.

at the same time is the Italian government and the småler. The Italian budget has been scolded by the EU for being too reckless and is facing negotiations with the EUROPEAN commission, in order to avoid fines. If France is also in breach of the rules increases Italy's strength in the discussions.