According to Bercy, the discussions will be the subject of conclusions which will be presented to François Bayrou and “translated into government proposals amending the 2025 budget” which had earned censure from his predecessor Michel Barnier.
The Ministers of the Economy, Éric Lombard, and of Public Accounts, Amélie de Montchalin, initiated on Monday “the first contacts” with the political forces represented in Parliament in order to involve them in the preparation of the 2025 budget, indicated Bercy Tuesday.
“The first contacts began on Monday, December 30 with representatives of political parties and groups as well as with the presidents of the Finance and Social Affairs committees and the general rapporteurs” of the finance bills (PLF) and financing of social security (PLFSS) “of the National Assembly and the Senate”, specified the Ministry of Economy and Finance in a press release.
These meetings, planned in Bercy until the day of Prime Minister François Bayrou's general policy declaration on January 14, aim to “share the budgetary discussion framework as well as the proposals and recommendations made by the different political sensibilities”.
Adoption of the 2025 Budget in mid-February “at best”
On having “reminded him of the negative nature for businesses and households of the Barnier budget which provided for” tax increases, one of his “red lines”.
He called for “real savings from the State and its satellites”. These must “be supported by intermunicipal structures” and also go through “a drastic reduction in costs linked to immigration, on the AME or social benefits”, according to the elected official.
Contacted by AFP, the ministry could not immediately be reached.
According to Bercy, the discussions will be the subject of conclusions which will be presented to François Bayrou and “translated into government proposals amending the 2025 budget” which had earned censure from his predecessor Michel Barnier.
The Prime Minister hopes for adoption “in mid-February”, without however being “sure of getting there”.
As a result of the censorship of Michel Barnier's government on December 4, France has no budget for 2025.
On January 1, only a “special law” will exist authorizing ministries to incur expenses within the limits of what was provided for in the initial finance law of 2024, according to a decree published Tuesday in the Official Journal. However, they must be limited to “essential expenses”.
