French environment minister sacked for criticising 'bad' budget Ms Batho, whose ministry's budget was cut by seven per cent, is the first minister in Francois Hollande's Socialist government to be axed for criticising policy. She is being replaced by Socialist lawmaker Philippe Martin. However, the outspoken Minister for Industrial Renewal, Arnaud Montebourg, has not been dropped despite criticising his peers several times and even questioning economic policy. Ministries are expected to achieve a cut of about 1.5 billion euros (£1.3 billion) in central government spending in 2014 from this year's level. France aims to cut the budget deficit to 3.9 per cent of gross domestic product this year, then 3.6 per cent in 2014 and 2.8 per cent in 2015.