Michel Barnier says he is able to “very significantly reduce the effort” requested of the departments | EUROtoday

Faced with the distrust of the presidents of the departmental councils concerning the federal government’s budgetary selections, the Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, needed to reassure them, Friday, November 15, throughout a speech on the congress of the departments of France, in Angers.

“We are going to significantly reduce the effort required of you », announced the head of government, receiving applause, before adding: “At no time will my mindset be to point fingers at departments. » Announcing a series of avenues for changing the budgetary text, Michel Barnier nevertheless estimated that “the objective [de déficit à 5 % du PIB pour 2025 ] » had to be “preserved”.

The finance invoice for 2025 which is at the moment being mentioned in Parliament offers for financial savings of 5 billion euros for communities. However, in accordance with the Départements de France affiliation, the departments are the stratum of communities most affected, with 44% of the trouble, or 2.2 billion euros.

“Oxygen”

On the eve of Michel Barnier’s speech, the presidents of right-wing departments had threatened to droop the cost of energetic solidarity revenue (RSA) and to cease taking good care of new unaccompanied minors (UMAs). The president of the group of departments of the precise, middle and independents (DCI) inside Departments of France, Nicolas Lacroix, additionally threatened “to attack the State” in courtroom each time he comes to a decision “which impacts the finances of departments without their agreement”.

In response, the Prime Minister introduced the institution, from “early 2025”of a “steering body, shared by the State and the departments, which will make major decisions”. “This body will not only be informed, but I want it to be consulted for any State decision that affects departmental finances”he clarified, referring specifically to the work to be carried out for the creation of a “single social allowance”.

Before native elected officers, the Prime Minister additionally pleaded for “a change in the way departments are financed”whereas in accordance with him, “tax leverage has been significantly reduced; to wonder even if it still exists ». “I do not accept that the departments have the feeling of becoming simple operators of the State. This is not what we wanted with the decentralization laws”he recalled. Michel Barnier has expressed his want to “give back room for maneuver, oxygen, freedom” to the departments, “to restore the meaning of [leur] assignment “.