In 2009 he is expected to reach 44 or 30

Resorption of the public deficit crisis pass not by increases of taxes but by a decrease in expenditure. Hammered for weeks, this principle finds a first concrete translation during initiated negotiations, this week in Bercy, at the limits for employment that will be necessary in 2010 in each Department. Discussions are carried out since February with budget advisers to each of them.

The time is now to the conversation between Eric Woerth, in charge of Budget, public accounts and public service, and the key Ministers. The debate, which began a few days ago to finish next week, are still more complicated than in previous years: for the first time, the Government will indeed strictly apply the principle of the replacement of half of officials from retirement. "The France must reduce its operating costs to increase its investment capacity." "Whatever the difficulties, I will not go back on my commitment not to replace an officer on two starting retirement", said Nicolas Sarkozy late March, on his trip to Saint-Quentin. The salaries and pensions of officials representing 43 of the expenditure of the State, the reduction of the workforce is, for him, the cornerstone of the control of public spending. "The public service is not the most exposed to the crisis", defended his side, Eric Woerth, Monday.

Little spared departments

In 2008, the rate of replacement was limited to 33, which should lead to the removal of 22.791 positions. This figure was, in the end, slightly higher (22.900). In 2009, he is expected to reach 44, or 30.529 job losses. It will be 50, in 2010 as 2011, promises Bercy, hoping that François Fillon will be able to resist the "lobbying" each in the ultimate arbitrations, current July. Eric Woerth part on the assumption of 68.500 starts next year, according to the latest estimates of the Inspector General of finance, is about as in 2009 (68.740). The strict application of the replacement of a start on two must therefore bear the number of positions "between 33,000 and 35,000", tells on Bercy. The economy generated would then 956 million euros, half of which allocated to the purchasing power of the agents.

Forecasts of retirement may evolve in the margin. Indeed, the reform of 2003 caused a lengthening of the career times, which could lead to a reduction in the departure next year, in a range between 5 and 15 depending on the departments. At Bercy, for example, the age of retirement was delayed for nearly a year nothing between 2005 and 2007: increased from 59.2 to 60.1 years on average. This year, it could even approach the Cape of 61 years. The number of departures, which was estimated at 6.958 in 2010 for the Ministry of economy and finance, is thus revised around 6.600, which reduces also, in principle, the number of positions.

Few departments should be spared by the rule of the "1 2". Universities, which should renounce 450 positions the next year, to lose ultimately no, suite for the mobilization of teachers-researchers. Justice (2.054(14) departures scheduled for 2010), which continued the modernization of the penitentiary administration, should be also partially exempt. National Education, which replaces yet 62 of departures this year, on the other hand should do better next year. And to achieve the objective of the "1 2", some departments will have to give up more than half of the posts by their young retirees. Bercy should lead by example with a rate which, as in 2009, could around 55. The defence, the Ministry of sustainable development and Foreign Affairs are, also, focus online.