Budget Cuts Spark Outrage Among Educators and Local Authorities
The French government has announced significant budget cuts for 2025, leading to widespread outrage among educators and local officials. Education Minister Anne Genetet revealed plans to eliminate 4,000 teaching positions, primarily in nursery and elementary schools, during an interview with Tribune Dimanche. This decision has been met with fierce criticism from unions, which describe it as a 'real bloodletting' of public education. The left, including leaders like Jean-Luc Mélenchon, have condemned the cuts as a deliberate attempt to foster ignorance.
In addition to cuts in education, local authorities are facing a staggering reduction of 5 billion euros as part of a broader 60 billion euros in savings. Samuel Hazard, the left-wing mayor of Verdun, has threatened to resign in protest and is calling on other local elected officials to join him. He argues that the government's approach shows a 'real contempt for the State' and that resignation could serve as a powerful statement against the proposed measures.
Minister Defends Budget Decisions Amidst Backlash
Despite the backlash, Minister Genetet has defended the budget, asserting that it prioritizes education, with a total allocation of 63 billion euros. She noted that the average class size would decrease to 21.4 students, the lowest recorded, due to declining school demographics. However, the negative impact of job cuts cannot be overlooked, as the education sector will bear the brunt of civil service reductions, accounting for a significant portion of the total 2,201 job cuts across the State.
Meanwhile, Hazard's call for collective resignations has resonated with other local leaders, like Patrick Lorans, mayor of Haudainville, who expressed support for the initiative. David Lisnard, president of the Association of Mayors of France, acknowledged the frustrations of local officials, emphasizing the need for their voices to be heard amidst ongoing budgetary pressures.
Collective Action Planned by Local Elected Officials
The situation is set to escalate as local elected officials prepare for a meeting next week in Le Havre to discuss collective actions in response to the government's budget cuts. Sébastien Martin, president of Intercommunalités France, has indicated that he will propose unified measures to address the concerns raised by mayors like Hazard. The discontent among local authorities highlights a growing rift between the government and those responsible for managing public services at the community level.
As the parliamentary debate on the 2025 budget approaches, both educators and local officials are poised to mobilize against what they see as detrimental cuts that threaten the fabric of public services in France.
