Local communities should be better managed

While the financial crisis disrupts ideological schemas, former Prime Minister sees reasons to defend "the French liberalism." "After the"too many State", we had fallen in the"too few State"", he explains. It also specifies its ambitions for the commission on the territorial reform he will preside over.

Say you, as the Director General of the IMF, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the peak of the financial crisis is passed

It is too early to answer. The first days following the announcement of the European banking plan was comforting. Stock markets were first rather responded well. We can hope that the financial situation will come back under control, but expect to definitely try. We will now have to deal with the consequences of the financial crisis on the real economy. And, a long-term effort awaits us.

What do you think of the French plan The you have built the same way

In detail, one can always find a few comments to make. But the general direction is good. This plan provides an answer just to the problems, which were those of the structure of the balance sheet of banks and public security to be given to their liquidity supply. I think it is likely to boost the financing of the economy.

Can't find you not excessive control of the State on the banks that will appeal to the public desk

I am pleased that you ask me this question, as I have often criticized to be not quite liberal. I had a debate a year, with Alan Greenspan, which had criticized me for saying that liberalism was the "law of the jungle". This was not what I said; I was talking about liberalism without rule. The history of ideas is made of swings. After the "too many State", we had fallen in the "too few State." If we can return to a median approach, something will come out of this crisis. This is the philosophy of liberalism in France, unlike the Anglo-Saxon. Therefore one should not take pretext of current difficulties to hear the trial of economic freedom. In my opinion, there is no need for "refounding" economic doctrine of right, just to remain faithful to what it was from the outset and that she should never have be: liberalism organized with rules and a review of the application of these rules.

Medium term, must rebuild a system monetary and financial world that is balanced, which avoids disturbances, which prevents excessive volatility in exchange rates, with the establishment of appropriations to the real needs of the economy, which prevents the speculation, which establishes the homogeneity of accounting standards and the prudential rules, which organizes the transparency of transactions, which should submit to identical rules for all. In short, he must recreate a monetary and financial order world. It won't be easy, because of other powers that the members of the G7 should participate in the development of reform and the West, Europe and United States, has, to be aware, the possibility to decide alone.

Is there not a risk of return to the control of the credit

Then, do we send not in ready-made ideas. Set rules according to which the issuance of credit by banks must be proportionate to their assets and the needs of the economy. Is not control of credit, it is common sense. But you are right, there is a risk. Because experience has shown that, in France, it is difficult to stick to the voice of reason.

That should do more to prevent transmission to the real economy

The line of the Government to firmly control public spending is good. It is difficult to take in a climate of recession. But there are still of savings deposits to explore: vocational training, tax niches...

You have created a surprise by saying recently that the France could to allow a few liberties with the standard of the stability pact deficit. What do you mean by that

This freedom is provided for in the stability pact, in exceptional circumstances, but under the control of the European Commission. Moreover, José Manuel Barroso reminded. The two sources of drift of the deficit can be of lower tax revenues and an increase in the debt loads. In these circumstances, the idea that can be temporarily out of the simplicity of the 3 may be accepted. But this relaxation of discipline budget European can only be of short duration and very small magnitude, because it is not to undermine the stability pact, which is the guarantor of monetary stability. The euro area may not work with too big budget unconformities.

The management of this crisis does not accentuate the presidentialization of the scheme

How could it be otherwise I do not think that there is place to complain if there is because of that it will soon.

The future territorial reform that your Committee will propose viset - to achieve gains in public expenditure

It is not the primary objective of the reform, even if it can, and I hope, generating savings. Local communities should be better managed. Currently, we have a superposition of levels, it is heavy and expensive. Above all, there is no clarity in the distribution of competences, several types of communities can do the same thing with cross financing and cumbersome as a result. One must begin by treating the problem of different structures, but without brutality. Then, need to see what skills attributed to each structure. Is rational, for example, that the regions manage the schools and the colleges departments Need to see what type of revenue at each local level, as advance the needs of funding resulting from their respective jurisdictions. It is a much more difficult than the constitutional reform case!

Territorial reform passet - it by deleting a level, as recommended by the Attali commission

I prefer to talk about closer cooperation between two levels. I repeat, this is a very delicate case, which involves the traditions, almost sentimental attachments, of interest. Avoid missteps and clumsiness. To be clear, can be This is a hypothesis first increase the links between the region and the departments and anticipate that the Councillors are also regional advisers, just now two assemblies. This means that the elections would be combined, as is the case in Paris. Term, this would pose the question of a cantonal redistribution. You can see, this is a long-term reform, and which is not without political risk.

Will your reflection extend to the reform of taxation and local finances Will it include Paris and the Ile-de-France

The mission focuses on all aspects of the territorial reform, the structures, skills, revenue. She will not speak with the same degree of accuracy each of these areas, and in particular the revenue. The subject is such a complex technical, legal, tax and especially political! For example, it would be very presumptuous to issue a proposal for reform of tax that is talked about thirty years in a few weeks. Can be set principles, for such matters, but did not go very far and leaving the Parliament and the Government to clarify things. Finally, the mission will necessarily include examination of the situation in Ile-de-France and the coordination between the community and the region.

What term do you this reform entered into force

I hope that we can submit our report about Easter. It will take several months to the Government to discuss with the parliamentary groups and parties, and some bills may be deposited from the back to school 2009. Because, then, there will be electoral deadlines and this will become more complicated. Should we consider a great law of all or several specific laws to structures, skills, local freedoms, for example, without excluding perhaps the need for a very limited reform of article 72 of the Constitution. We will discuss.

Your Committee will cut off not grass under the foot of parliamentarians which, precisely, the constitutional reform of July should restore power

I do not see why. This reform is very complex, it requires coordination of reflections between all the political groups and not just those of the majority, between the Assembly and the Senate, it is up to each make its contribution. The Committee will include for about half of the parliamentarians. He will present its proposals to the Government and the Parliament. At them will then return the political decision.