Minister Didier Migaud assures that the budget presented Thursday “will not be satisfactory”

The Minister of Justice affirmed Tuesday evening before the Law Commission of the National Assembly that he would be particularly attentive “at staff level” of magistrates and clerks.

The Justice budget, which will be presented on Thursday, “will not be satisfactory”said Minister of Justice Didier Migaud Tuesday evening before the Law Commission of the National Assembly.

“I can’t tell you more”continued the Minister of Justice, claiming however to be “mobilized” so that “the main commitments are kept, particularly in terms of staffing levels” magistrates or even clerks.

“We have a problem with the execution of the 2024 budget and we also have a problem with the 2025 budget from the moment the ceiling letter which was sent and which will be taken up, at least initially, by the current government and which will be presented to you, represents -487 million for the justice budget for 2025”specified the minister.

“I think that the Prime Minister is entirely aware of the priority that must be maintained for the sovereign and I think that his decisions will go entirely in this direction”however added Didier Migaud in response to questions from deputies.

“A priority”

The head of government must present the state budget for 2025 to the Council of Ministers on Thursday. Michel Barnier called for a reduction in the public deficit to 5% next year, before falling below the maximum European threshold of 3% at horizon 2029, two years later than what was promised by the previous government.

In his handover speech to Didier Migaud on September 23, Eric Dupond-Moretti emphasized that he was «indispensable» that the law sanctifying the justice budget be “respected”in particular to allow the planned hiring of 1,500 additional magistrates, 1,800 clerks, more than 1,100 contract workers and the continuation of the plan to build 18,000 additional prison places.

Traveling to Dijon on Friday, Mr. Migaud had promised to “ensure that justice is always considered a priority”despite public finances “more degraded than expected”.