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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| China crisis: Macrons under fire in France over cost of new plates | China crisis: Macrons under fire in France over cost of new plates |
| (6 months later) | |
| With some of their crockery dating back to the time of President René Coty in the 1950s, France’s first couple badly needed a dinner service that “corresponded better to the present day”, the Élysée let it be known. | With some of their crockery dating back to the time of President René Coty in the 1950s, France’s first couple badly needed a dinner service that “corresponded better to the present day”, the Élysée let it be known. |
| So Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron ordered a set of 900 dinner plates and 300 side plates, designed by the artist Evariste Richer, from the Manufacture de Sèvres, suppliers of fine porcelain to the presidential palace since 1848. | So Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron ordered a set of 900 dinner plates and 300 side plates, designed by the artist Evariste Richer, from the Manufacture de Sèvres, suppliers of fine porcelain to the presidential palace since 1848. |
| DNA breakthrough in 30-year-old French child murder case | |
| Inevitably, there is now a bit of row over the cost. According to the Journal du Dimanche, the official price tag for the new service was €50,000 (£44,000). The satirical weekly Le Canard enchaîné, however, makes it more like €500,000. | Inevitably, there is now a bit of row over the cost. According to the Journal du Dimanche, the official price tag for the new service was €50,000 (£44,000). The satirical weekly Le Canard enchaîné, however, makes it more like €500,000. |
| Macron’s critics have been quick to highlight the discrepancy, accusing the president of extravagance at a time of national belt-tightening due to his far-reaching programme of economic change. | Macron’s critics have been quick to highlight the discrepancy, accusing the president of extravagance at a time of national belt-tightening due to his far-reaching programme of economic change. |
| The revelation came, unfortunately, after his head of communications, Sibeth Ndiaye, posted a video of Macron talking animatedly about the “crazy amounts of cash” France spent on welfare without making any great difference. | The revelation came, unfortunately, after his head of communications, Sibeth Ndiaye, posted a video of Macron talking animatedly about the “crazy amounts of cash” France spent on welfare without making any great difference. |
| “We plough a crazy amount of cash into minimum welfare benefits and people are still poor,” he said, reviewing a speech he was to give later in the southern city of Montpellier. “People who are born poor stay poor. We have to have something that enables people to get out of it.” | “We plough a crazy amount of cash into minimum welfare benefits and people are still poor,” he said, reviewing a speech he was to give later in the southern city of Montpellier. “People who are born poor stay poor. We have to have something that enables people to get out of it.” |
| The speech subsequently made clear Macron was referring to the need for greater investment in education and reforms to a benefit system that stigmatises recipients while failing to make any real improvement to their lives. | The speech subsequently made clear Macron was referring to the need for greater investment in education and reforms to a benefit system that stigmatises recipients while failing to make any real improvement to their lives. |
| But for a head of of state dubbed “the president of the rich”, it did not look good. The pricey crockery, though, has an explanation. A national institution founded in the reign of Louis XV, the Manufacture de Sèvres is fully state-subsidised, and its employees are civil servants. | But for a head of of state dubbed “the president of the rich”, it did not look good. The pricey crockery, though, has an explanation. A national institution founded in the reign of Louis XV, the Manufacture de Sèvres is fully state-subsidised, and its employees are civil servants. |
| The official bill for the new dinner service would cover the designer’s fee, the news weekly Le Point reported; the rest would not be paid for by the Élysée, but come out of the factory’s budget, partly financed by the culture ministry. | The official bill for the new dinner service would cover the designer’s fee, the news weekly Le Point reported; the rest would not be paid for by the Élysée, but come out of the factory’s budget, partly financed by the culture ministry. |
| The Canard enchaîné’s calculations were based on the catalogue prices, of €400-500 per plate, that the factory charges collectors. “You can’t compare the list price to the public and the price of state orders,” Romane Sarfati, a ceramics expert , told the magazine. | The Canard enchaîné’s calculations were based on the catalogue prices, of €400-500 per plate, that the factory charges collectors. “You can’t compare the list price to the public and the price of state orders,” Romane Sarfati, a ceramics expert , told the magazine. |
| “Some will doubtless call this order a waste of public money,” concluded Le Point, noting that most French presidents ordered a new service. “Others will prefer to consider it state support for a heritage industry, and a priceless investment.” | “Some will doubtless call this order a waste of public money,” concluded Le Point, noting that most French presidents ordered a new service. “Others will prefer to consider it state support for a heritage industry, and a priceless investment.” |
| France | France |
| Emmanuel Macron | Emmanuel Macron |
| Brigitte Macron | Brigitte Macron |
| Europe | Europe |
| news | news |
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