The new government is seeking to break the deadlock. The Ministers of the Economy, Éric Lombard, and of Public Accounts, Amélie de Montchalin, initiated this Monday “the first contacts” with the political forces represented in Parliament in order to involve them in the preparation of the 2025 budget, indicated this Bercy Tuesday. “I contacted representatives of all political forces on Sunday to invite them to Bercy,” said Éric Lombard on the social network X.
As I committed to doing, I contacted representatives of all political forces on Sunday to invite them to Bercy. With @AdeMontchalin we will present the results of this dialogue to the Prime Minister so that they can be translated into Government proposals.
— Eric Lombard (@Eric_R_Lombard) December 31, 2024
“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.
Meetings planned until mid-January
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”.
On and 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”.
I just spoke with the Minister of the Economy @Eric_R_Lombard on the 2025 budget.
I reminded him of the negative nature for businesses and households of the Barnier budget which provided for 40 billion in taxes.
The minister himself agreed, speaking of the budget…
— Eric Ciotti (@eciotti) December 31, 2024
He called for “real savings from the State and its satellites”. These must “be supported by intermunicipal structures” and also involve “a drastic reduction in costs linked to immigration, 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 the finance law provided for. initial of 2024, according to a decree published this Tuesday in the Official Journal. However, they must be limited to “essential expenses”.