Minister of Justice Didier Migaud Demands Budget Increase to Ensure Justice System Stability
In a strong statement on October 14, 2024, Minister of Justice Didier Migaud declared he would consider leaving the government if the proposed budget cuts for the Justice sector were not addressed. The draft finance bill, presented by Michel Barnier, revealed a reduction of nearly 500 million euros for the Justice budget in 2025, leaving it at 10.24 billion euros, significantly less than the 11 billion euros anticipated by the justice programming law adopted in October 2023. Migaud emphasized the urgency of improving the budget, stating, "If we stick to the letter ceiling, I don't see what I would still do in government." He expressed trust in Prime Minister Barnier, who has promised to propose amendments to increase funding for the Justice sector during parliamentary discussions.
Migaud reiterated the importance of maintaining commitments regarding staffing within the justice system, which he described as being in a state of disarray. He highlighted the need for additional funding to combat the congestion of justice services and to meet the staffing goals set forth by his predecessor, Eric Dupond-Moretti. Migaud pointed out that France's justice system is lagging behind many comparable nations in terms of resource allocation and staff numbers, insisting that "justice must have the means" to function effectively.
