Andrew Neil shut down the former civil servant as he noted that France's national debt is higher (Image: ITV)
Andrew Neil shut down a self-identified former civil servant after they claimed France's economy is in better shape than the UK's.
The dispute arose after Mr Neil commented on proposals from France's leftist New National Front coalition to introduce a 90 percent tax rate on annual income over €400,000 (￡338,000).
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As he clarified the new set-up of the French National Assembly would not provide the coalition with the majority needed to pass such a proposal, one social media user suggested France would need to introduce the tax rate to sustain its economy.
Responding to the comment, the self-proclaimed former civil servant challenged the notion, arguing France's economy is stronger than Britain's.
They wrote on X, the site formerly known as Twitter: "They actually don’t. National debt is lower than in the UK, services work, trains run, doctors are available, etc. Perhaps why Andrew lives here.
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French national debt is 111% of GDP. British national debt is 100% GDP. Research before you tweet. https://t.co/73ClEIN9d7
— Andrew Neil (@afneil) July 9, 2024
"I’m afraid the days of thinking yourselves superior to everyone else ended about 50 years ago, you just never got the message."
But Mr Neil quickly rebuked the comment, replying: "French national debt is 111% of GDP. British national debt is 100% of GDP. Research before you tweet."
According to data from Statista, France's national debt amounted to $2.19 trillion in 2022, or approximately 117 percent of GDP, one of the highest national debts in the world.
For the same year, Britain's national debt amounted to 96.6 percent which increased to 97.6 percent in the year 2023/2024.
The ongoing political turmoil France is experiencing will likely exacerbate economic uncertainty as the French wait to learn how the aftermath of the second round of elections on July 7 will unravel.
Despite polling suggesting the far-right National Rally (RN) would secure a victory, the left New National Front alliance pulled ahead and secured the most seats in the Assembly – but not enough to form a government alone.
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France faces a lengthy debate on its next Prime Minister after no party secured a majority (Image: Getty)
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The legislature is split between the leftist coalition, President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist allies and Jordan Bardella's RN.
According to official results, all three main blocs fell far short of the 289 seats needed to control the 577-seat National Assembly, the more powerful of France’s two legislative chambers.
The results showed just over 180 seats for the New Popular Front, more than 160 for Macron’s centrist alliance and more than 140 for the far-right National Rally party of Marine Le Pen.
The leftist coalition's three main parties — the hard-left France Unbowed, the Socialists and the Greens — began negotiations to find a candidate for prime minister.
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The coalition called on Emmanuel Macron to “immediately turn to the New Popular Front" and allow it to form a government.
It said the “prolonged retention” of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal could be seen as an attempt to erase the election results.
Mr Attal had offered his resignation on Monday but President Macron rejected it, urging him to stay in office to provide France with some continuity as negotiations continue to select his successor.
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