In a contentious exchange over public finances, resigning ministers have been accused of using misleading figures to blame local authorities for the deteriorating state of France's finances. The local authorities have strongly countered these claims, arguing that the government's fiscal policies and spending habits are primarily responsible for the alarming deficit.
The debate centers around a claimed 16 billion euro impact on the 2024 budget due to local authority spending, a figure that local leaders deem exaggerated and unfounded. With the state deficit reaching 155.7 billion euros in 2023, local authorities argue that their financial practices have remained stable and responsible despite rising operational costs.
