The speaker of France's Senate, Gérard Larcher, has admitted to a "mistake" over the ordering of new chairs for himself and his colleagues, which sparked controversy due to their high cost. The new chairs, which cost €34,000 for two chairs and a prototype, were reported by the French satirical weekly Le Canard Enchaîné. This report was particularly damaging for Larcher, who has publicly advocated for protecting the purchasing power of the French public amidst rising costs.
Photo: French Senate.
Larcher stated that he had not been informed about the cost of the chairs and had ordered an investigation. He explained that the Senate's furniture 'has a history and therefore a cost' but acknowledged that the expense was excessive. He also expressed that there should be a change in practices within the Senate administration to ensure more responsible spending.
Larcher, a senior figure in the right-wing Republicans (LR) party, emphasised that 'we cannot advocate reducing public spending and not apply it to ourselves.' He also stressed his commitment to supporting the government's efforts under Prime Minister François Bayrou to reduce the deficit and public spending through concrete actions.
The controversy has raised further concerns about public spending during a time of economic strain for ordinary citizens, as Larcher holds the second-highest office in France and would assume the role of head of state if President Emmanuel Macron were incapacitated.
Source: www.msn.com