More police and cheaper restaurants is premier’s aim

French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin today laid out his centre-right government’s action plan, promising to reduce crime, speed up justice, reform the overburdened pension system and, he said, restore a sense of hope in the nation.

He even hopes to cut the cost of eating in restaurants.

Raffarin told parliament his government aimed to simplify life for French citizens and help the nation adapt to a globalised world.

He told the National Assembly that the spring elections, which saw extreme-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen move into the presidential runoff, pointed the way to needed changes.

Both Le Pen’s initial success and a record abstention 39% in legislative elections signalled the nation’s ‘‘discontent’’ and ‘‘exasperation,’’ Raffarin said.

‘‘Many French reproached the republic for not keeping its promises of liberty, equality and fraternity,’’ the prime minister said.

Conservative President Jacques Chirac won a landslide re-election victory in the May 5 runoff, promising a tough law-and-order approach to crime which had been Le Pen’s main message.

In legislative elections in June, Chirac’s conservatives crushed the Socialist-led left, winning 70% of the National Assembly seats.

But the new government knows it must still win over voters who didn’t bother to turn up at the ballot box.

Raffarin said his government would wage an ‘‘unprecedented’’ fight against crime, creating 13,500 new police jobs within five years and 10,100 new jobs in the justice system.

‘‘We heard the call of the French,’’ who were fearful of insecurity, be it physical, economic or social, Raffarin said. ‘‘We aim to restore hope among the French.’’

New legislation was being prepared, he said, that would include the new police jobs, judicial reforms to speed up justice and the creation of educational centres to fight juvenile delinquency, among other measures.

He reiterated Chirac’s promise of an across-the-board 5% tax cut this autumn, and said he would appeal to EU partners to reduce the Value Added Tax imposed on restaurants to 5.5% like that in fast-food establishments from 19.6%.

Raffarin also promised to tackle the delicate job of reforming the pension system. He said a plan would be ready by mid-2003.

In a thinly veiled shot at his predecessor, the Socialist Lionel Jepson, Raffarin said ‘‘It’s no longer the time for creating new committees or drafting new reports. It’s time to make decisions.’’

The nation’s defence system also must be adapted to ‘‘a multipolar, moving and unstable world,’’ the prime minister said, referring to terrorism, the proliferation of arms of mass destruction and regional conflicts.

‘‘Our defences must be in phase with these evolutions,’’ Raffarin said.

He said that France must maintain its capacity to act alone ‘‘if its own interests and bilateral engagements call for it.’’

A plan to upgrade and modernise equipment and improve the lot of the military is to be introduced before year’s end, he said.