Michel Barnier announces a “very significant” reduction in savings requested from departments

Facing “anxiety” et “anger” departments, Michel Barnier is letting go. “We are going to very significantly reduce the effort required of you by the finance bill”announced the Prime Minister, Friday November 15, during the conference of the Départements de France association, in Angers (Maine-et-Loire). “There is an absolute urgency for the Prime Minister to review all the provisions” considered, declared the vice-president of the association, Jean-Léonce Dupont, on franceinfo, warning against a risk of “cessation of payment” of certain departments “fin 2025”.

The government is reaching out. “We are ready for improvements” on the effort required of communities in the 2025 budget, Maud Bregeon, government spokesperson, announced Friday morning on franceinfo. The effort of 5 billion euros in savings requested from communities, almost half of which for the departments, could “decrease” provided that “find additional spending reductions” during the debates in the Senate, she added.

Departments are threatening to cut the RSA. The departments led by the right and the center announced on Thursday their intention to suspend the payment of active solidarity income if the government does not reverse the budgetary cuts planned for 2025. They also raise the specter of stopping take care of new unaccompanied minors, who fall under their jurisdiction under child welfare.

Communities facing increasing costs. Saying “asphyxiated”the departments are facing an explosion in their social spending on child protection, assistance for dependent elderly people and people with disabilities. At the same time, they are seeing their revenue from real estate transactions decline and recording less VAT than expected.

The hypothesis of a 49.3 is becoming clearer. Michel Barnier announced on Thursday in West Francewhich he would engage “probably” the responsibility of its government for the budget by article 49.3 of the Constitution, which allows adoption of the text without a vote. While he would therefore be exposed to the filing of a motion of censure, he believes that “the French do not want” the overthrow of the government.