Budget 2025: Matignon refuses to supply ceiling letters to Eric Coquerel and Charles de Courson

September 17, 2024 – The transmission of the general budget guidelines, which are based on the ceiling letters determining ministerial appropriations, was initially scheduled for July 15. However, Eric Coquerel (La France Insoumise) and Charles de Courson (Libertés, Indépendants, Outre-Mer et Territoires) left Matignon without the requested documents on Tuesday.

Unexpected refusal

Eric Coquerel and Charles de Courson, respectively Chairman and General Rapporteur of the National Assembly’s Finance Committee, had their requests for access to the ceiling letters for the 2025 budget rejected. As they left Matignon, Coquerel expressed his surprise and frustration, calling the refusal “staggering” and “a threat to democracy”. He accused President Emmanuel Macron of flouting constitutional rights and announced that he would go to Bercy to try to obtain the documents.

Budget based on ceiling letters

Prime Minister Michel Barnier explained in a letter to the chairman of the Finance Committee that the budget would be drawn up on the basis of the lettres-plafonds, validated by the previous government and communicated to the ministries on August 20. Barnier promised to send a “provisional version” of the summary report on appropriations and budget guidelines by the end of the week.

Tight schedule and delays

The dissolution of the French National Assembly, followed by early parliamentary elections and the late appointment of a new Prime Minister, has compressed the timetable for the budget presentation. Michel Barnier now plans to submit the draft budget to the Assembly on October 9, instead of October 1 as stipulated by the organic law, due to these delays.

Eric Coquerel expressed his dissatisfaction with this situation, highlighting the accumulated delays and the “poor management” of relations with the National Assembly. He criticized the treatment reserved for the budget process and expressed concern about the impact of these delays on parliamentary work.