Bankrupt France set to save £600m – by turning off the lights
Worldwide, Daily news | ankakh | January 31, 2013 15:21The ‘bankrupt’ French government yesterday set out a law forcing all non-residential buildings to turn off their lights at night in a bid to save £600million a year.
From July 1, interior lights will have to be turned off within an hour of the last person leaving the premises, while all exterior lights and shop fronts will have to be plunged into darkness by 1am.
The new law, which is also aimed at cutting back on CO2 emissions, comes just days after a senior member of President Francois Hollande’s Socialist government said the country was ‘totally bankrupt’.
Environment Minister Delphine Batho said it would also make France a pioneer in Europe in preventing light pollution, which disrupts ecosystems and people’s sleep patterns.
However a poll by Le Figaro newspaper showed eight out of ten readers agreed that France was indeed bankrupt.
The tax-and-spend policies of President Francois Hollande have come under attack from critics.
Gerard Depardieu is one of several high-profile fiscal exiles from the new 75 per cent top tax rate.
The film star has obtained a Russian passport, bought a house in Belgium and put his Paris home on the market.
The President is currently trying to revive France’s economic fortunes by cutting spending by the equivalent of more than £51billion.
Mr Hollande has also pledged to increase taxes by £20billion over the next five years.
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