PARIS (Reuters) - French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Wednesday he was in favour of demanding companies to help keep the budget deficit as close as possible next year to an EU limit.
Le Maire said he wanted all measures necessary to be taken to keep the public deficit as close as possible to an EU-limit of 3 percent of GDP though it was likely to be surpassed.
"That can be by keeping public spending under control and by (increasing) tax receipts. That can be done by specifically asking big companies to contribute. I'm in favour," Le Maire told lawmakers at the Senate.
President Emmanuel Macron announced concessions on Monday to anti-government protestors expected to blow a 10 billion euro hole in the budget, pushing the deficit well past the 2.8 percent of GDP expected until now for 2019.
(Reporting by Myriam Rivet, writing by Leigh Thomas, Editing by Dominique Vidalon)
