From June to December 1958, General de Gaulle wanted to surround the new Constitution with tangible economic stability. The growth of GDP was weakened by latent inflation and a drop in the exchange rate of the French franc. The Finance Minister, A. Pinay, proposed to balance the budget but the J. Rueff Committee had a more expansive plan. The Pinay-Rueff plan initiated a movement towards a balanced budget, established a new franc after devaluation, and confirmed the free trade movement in France. The plan benefitted from the economic strengths of the 4th Republic. Although it did not acheive wage growth moderation, this plan was the foundation of the stability of the French monetary and budgetary system up until 1968.