Arthur de Laborde / Photo credits: Matthieu Delaty / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP
10.46pm, November 21, 2024modified to
On the occasion of the 106th Congress of Mayors this Thursday in Paris, Michel Barnier suggested that he wanted to work for a reduction in the budgetary efforts requested from local authorities. The Prime Minister, however, recalled that his scope of action was correlated with possible censorship of the left and the National Rally.
“The French want stability, serenity.” This is the conviction of Michel Barnier, who refers to the threats of government censorship brandished by the new Popular Front and the National Rally as the use of 49.3 approaches to have budgetary texts adopted. “It’s quite motivating to say that we can leave tomorrow morning,” the Prime Minister even quips.
Three billion euros in relief hoped for
Before the mayors of France gathered at Porte de Versailles on Thursday, for the 106th congress of the AMF, the head of government delivered a closing speech, while he was expected at the turning point on the budgetary efforts requested from local authorities (5 billion of euros in savings). If the municipalities hoped for relief, no concrete perspective was formulated by Michel Barnier, who nevertheless suggested that he wanted to move in this direction.
“The additional amendments will change the government's initial text. And I repeat, as I have always said, that this budget was neither perfect nor final,” recalled the Prime Minister. The government should therefore take up the senators' proposals to reduce the effort required of communities from five to two billion euros. In an operation to seduce mayors, the head of government has multiplied promises aimed at making life easier for elected officials and giving more freedom to municipalities. For example, he wants to put an end to the inflation of standards and relax the rules on the artificialization of land.
“I don't know how much time I have ahead of me. It depends on a possible coalition of the opposite in the National Assembly. I don't know if that will happen, but I am ready for it”, tempers Michel Barnier, in reference to the threats of censorship brandished by the left and the National Rally. “I know that this is not what the French want,” he added.
