Faced with a tight schedule, Éric Coquerel, the chairman of the Finance Committee of the National Assembly, is pressing for the release of crucial budget documents known as the 'ceiling letters.' These letters, which set the budgetary limits for each ministry, are essential for the preparation of the 2025 budget project. Coquerel plans to visit Prime Minister Michel Barnier at Matignon to obtain these documents, having expressed frustration over the two-month delay in the budget process due to recent political changes in France.
In a recent interview, Coquerel emphasized the need for 'transparency' from the government, accusing it of withholding vital information necessary for parliamentarians to effectively prepare the budget. He noted that while ministries have received the ceiling letters, parliamentarians have not, which hampers their ability to work on the budget. Coquerel, alongside his centrist colleague Charles de Courson, is prepared to confront the Prime Minister if the documents are not provided promptly, insisting on their right to access all necessary budgetary information.
The urgency surrounding the 2025 budget is heightened by a warning from the Treasury about a potential increase in the public deficit, projected to reach 5.6% of GDP in 2024 and 6.2% in 2025 if current policies remain unchanged. With the government facing pressure from both sides of the political spectrum, Coquerel has stated that the left will seek to significantly amend the budget proposal to align it more closely with their policy priorities.
