Army: Hollande wants to review the pace of downsizing – Le Parisien

Army: Hollande wants to review the pace of downsizing – Le Parisien

Jan 14 2015, 5:50 p.m. |. Update: 14 Jan 2015, 8:14 p.m.

. 000 posts in armies in six years, Francois Hollande promised on Wednesday to review the pace of downsizing.

“exceptional situation we have to lead to reconsider the pace of downsizing that was scheduled for the next three years as part of the military planning law,” said the president to aboard the aircraft carrier “Charles de Gaulle” to his wishes for the Army.

“I ask the Defence Minister to make me proposals by the end of the week, taking into account the course budgetary needs “, added the head of state. A Defense Council will be held on this issue next Wednesday and he “immediately take the decision” in terms of pace of downsizing.

The annual budget of the army, amounting to 31.4 billion euros, will remain “ringfenced” until 2016, has once again assured the President. In May 2014, the four chiefs of staff were up to their resignation in the balance in the event of further reduction in the defense budget.

QUESTION OF THE DAY. Terrorism: should freeze the downsizing of the armed?

10,500 troops deployed in the country

Already heavily involved in overseas theaters, Africa or the Middle Eastern, French forces are now sought for deployment of an unprecedented scale in the country, and since their professionalisation in 1996, the limits of their “operational contract”. Thus, for the first time, the number of personnel engaged in this “internal transaction” securing “sensitive sites” (10 500) is higher than that of soldiers deployed in external operations (8500).

 

 Passed in December 2013, the planning law provides 190 billion euros in loans over the period 2014-2019, with an annual budget maintained at 31.4 billion euros by 2016, up to 1.5 % of GDP, slightly up then. To maintain a consistent military presence in times of crisis, the text included the elimination of 34,000 positions in armies in six years, including 7,500 in 2015 alone.

The French presence in Central “light”

However, Holland said Wednesday he had decided to “lighten” the French presence in the Central part of the year Sangaris operation. He announced a reduction of military forces to “Spring 1700, 800 in the fall.” And that, he says, in line with the “rise of the United Nations mission: 12 000 men”

“Charles de Gaulle” en route to the Gulf.

While France is also engaged in an uncertain war against the jihadists Daech, the aircraft carrier “Charles de Gaulle”, which will sail to the Middle East to strengthen the coalition arrangement with the United States and a handful of other countries, will “if necessary” to “conduct operations in Iraq with more intensity and effectiveness” as part of the French strikes against Daech , said Francois Hollande.

“Charles de Gaulle”, which sailed from Toulon Tuesday to the Indian Ocean, will pass through the Gulf where it is likely to be mobilized to contribute to operations in the Iraqi theater

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