Can a Prime Minister get angry at departments? Michel Barnier does not seem to believe the same. Closing the meeting of the association of elected departments of France, on Friday, November 15 in Angers, he assured those elected, quite upset about the savings needed for 2025, that the government was willing to postpone things. “I am here to tell you, taking into account your very specific situation, that we are going to very significantly reduce the effort required of you by the finance bill”declared.
The Prime Minister, however, was careful not to commit an amount, referring to the budget discussion in the Senate. Everything will unfold here, since, as Mr Barnier stressed, “The National Assembly rejected its own text by a large majority”. Intense discussions have also begun between senators and Barnier’s team.
Since the Government announced that it expected €5 billion in savings from local authorities, departments have questioned having to assume “44%” of the total, although its economic situation is fragile. “We are in the bone. “Social spending has skyrocketed, resources have fallen”testified François Sauvadet, president of the Departments of France: “Don’t suffocate us. »
sacrificial posture
On Thursday afternoon, the majority right-wing and center departments warned that they were willing to suspend the payment of Active Solidarity Income (RSA) funds to family benefit funds. Nor is it more about taking “New unaccompanied minors” since January. “Child protection is not an immigration policy”justified Nicolas Lacroix, president (Les Républicains) of Haute-Marne.
Michel Barnier amended himself, recognizing that “the very specific situation” departments “it may not have been well received” in the first version of the finance bill, “done in fifteen days”he stressed. He promised “fairer efforts” than those planned.
that’s left“Today the country no longer has room for financial maneuver”he explained. France will have to assume 3.4 trillion euros of debt next year. The goal of reducing the deficit to 5%, then to 3%, “don’t make me laugh”Barnier acknowledged, but it will remain: “We must reduce the deficit. we must reduce the debt. It is the national interest. »
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