Francis Mer, a magician for France

摘要

"I came to be of service," says France's new finance minister. The typical insincerity of the professional politician? Perhaps not. For one thing, Francis Mer waited until the age of 62 (he's now 63) before being persuaded last May, apparently by President Jacques Chirac himself, to j oin the new centre-right government. For another, he cannot be there for the money: last year, as co-chairman of the Arcelor steel group, he earned around $1m; his ministerial salary, even after the 70% pay rise just voted by parliament, will be a rather more modest $154,000. So just how can this neophyte be of service? The party line (though Mr Mer has never carried any party's card) is that an independent-minded industrialist is exactly the kind of minister the country needs in charge of its money―and indeed, given Mr Mer's full title, its economy and industry, too. The cynical line is that, should the going get tough, he will be an easy scapegoat.