Left-wing figures in France on Sunday reacted with uproar after the country’s richest man the luxury goods tycoon Bernard Arnault described an academic behind a wealth tax plan as a “far-left activist” who wanted to “destroy the French economy”.

With France under pressure to erode its growing debt pile and budget deficit, French economist Gabriel Zucman has suggested the ultra-rich pay at least a two-percent tax on their fortune.

The idea has been enthusiastically taken up by the left including the Socialist Party, whose support new Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu could need to ensure the survival of his government.

But it has been denounced by the right, who fear that such a scheme could force the wealthy to flee France.

“This is clearly not a technical or economic debate, but rather

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