The spending promises of Nicolas Sarkozy, France's Gaullist presidential candidate, came under scrutiny yesterday after one of his party's top financial experts suggested a core pledge was unrealistic.

Pierre Méhaignerie, chairman of the parliamentary finance committee, questioned whether Mr Sarkozy could cut workers' social charges as aggressively as promised. "We can hope to lower them by one percentage point between now and the end of the legislature, but not more," Mr Méhaignerie said.