The Minister Delegate for Public Accounts warns of the “serious” consequences of a possible political blockage around the 2025 budget

Thomas Cazenave said in an interview with “Les Echos” on Friday that “dialogue can and must be established” around the future budget, so that it obtains at least a relative majority in the National Assembly.

The Minister Delegate for Public Accounts, Thomas Cazenave, called on Friday 2 August for all political groups to initiate a “dialogue” around the budget for 2025, warning of the consequences “serious” of a political blockage for public finances.

“There is a lot of talk about the calendar of ceiling letters setting the credits of the ministries for next year. But the number one subject is to know what can be the way through the National Assembly for a budget that obtains a majority, or a relative majority, and that it is not censored,” said the resigning minister in an interview with the newspaper The echoes.

Considering that the “dialogue can and must be established” around the budget, the Minister Delegate proposed that “by the end of August, the government will make available to political groups all the current elements on the budgetary situation.” “We need to move on to practical work, for each group to make proposals and display its priorities,” he added.

According to the organic law relating to finance laws (Lolf), the draft budget for next year must be submitted to Parliament “no later than the first Tuesday in October”on October 1 this year. But the adoption of the draft finance law (PLF) is expected to be complex, while the National Assembly is without a clear majority following the early legislative elections.

The Minister of Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire, had declared on Wednesday that he would send “this week” to the Prime Minister proposals for significantly reduced spending ceilings for each ministry, in order to have a 2025 budget in time, despite the political deadlock. These proposals had not yet been sent on Friday, the Ministry of Public Accounts told AFP.

Thomas Cazenave highlighted the risks of a blockage. “The consequences would be serious. I hear that it is possible to renew the credits identically, but certain dynamic expenses increase each year, such as benefits or the payroll. This would therefore mean that we would run out of credits during the year,” he explained.

“And then there are programs that have been started, projects that have already been launched and need to be financed. A budget renewed identically would only postpone the impasse very temporarily!”the minister continued.