Politics · France · 3 hrs ago
French department leaders protest budget plans after Lecornu misses congress
At a congress in Reims, French department leaders protested planned budget measures they say will put pressure on local finances.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu cancelled his visit, prompting some leaders to leave the room as Minister Françoise Gatel spoke.
The measures include more than €1.2 billion affecting departments, within €5.4 billion in cuts to local authorities’ budgets; another account describes a €1.8 billion levy on departments.
Department leaders say they are already squeezed by falling property transaction revenue and rising social support costs.
Gatel said the share of CSG revenue available to departments would rise from €300 million to €400 million.
Lecornu has invited the leaders to a meeting in Matignon in mid-November, but their president, François Sauvadet, has not said whether they will attend.
Department leaders at a congress in Reims protested budget measures they say will affect them and criticized Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu for missing the event.
Lecornu cancelled his appearance the night before, and leaders left the room during a speech by Minister Françoise Gatel.
François Sauvadet said the departments had wanted Lecornu to explain the budget measures in person.
Gatel said the share of social security contribution revenue that could be allocated to departments would rise from 300 million to 400 million euros.
Xavier Bertrand said the dispute reflected wider problems with France’s centralized system of government.
- Who
- Department leaders, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, and Minister Françoise Gatel. Xavier Bertrand also criticized the government.
- What
- Department leaders protested budget measures and Lecornu’s absence from their congress.
- When
- Friday, 16 October 2026. Lecornu cancelled his appearance the previous evening.
- Where
- Reims, at the Assembly of the Departments of France congress.
- Why
- Leaders objected to budget measures affecting departments and said they wanted Lecornu to explain them in person.
Department leaders and Xavier Bertrand
French government
Budget measures
Department leaders and Xavier Bertrand
Department leaders objected to measures they said would affect their finances.
French government
The sources do not report the government’s detailed defence of the budget measures.
Lecornu’s absence
Department leaders and Xavier Bertrand
François Sauvadet said he wanted Lecornu to explain the measures in person and criticized the letter inviting leaders to Matignon.
French government
Françoise Gatel defended Lecornu, saying he had not avoided the congress and describing him as courageous and responsible.
Local government
Department leaders and Xavier Bertrand
Bertrand argued that France’s centralized system could no longer hold and called for more trust in local elected officials.
French government
Bertrand said the government was unwilling to give up power.
Lecornu announced a 600-million-euro support fund for departments at their congress.
Sauvadet called for Lecornu to attend; Lecornu later sent a letter inviting department leaders to Matignon in mid-November.
Lecornu cancelled his appearance.
Department leaders gathered in Reims, protested Lecornu’s absence and left the room during Gatel’s speech.
Gatel said the share of social security contribution revenue that could go to departments would increase from 300 million to 400 million euros.
- Congress location
- Reims
- Congress date
- 16 October 2026
- Proposed increase in CSG allocation
- 300 million to 400 million euros
- Budget reductions for local authorities
- 5.4 billion euros
- Matignon invitation
- Mid-November
- Disputed amount
- Article 1 says measures worth more than 1.2 billion euros would affect departments; Article 2 refers to a 1.8-billion-euro levy on departments.
3 sources
What people are saying
Our government, if you need nothing, ask them for something.
The centralized functioning of our country can no longer hold.
I would have liked a quick phone call.
I am a minister to serve, I will not resign and I will not shut my mouth, dear Jean-Léonce.
Posts on X
Alors que @FrancoiseGatel débute son discours à l'Assemblée des départements de France, la majorité du public quitte la salle. "Non je ne démissionne pas et je ne ferme pas ma gueule" répond la ministre à Jean-Léonce Dupont, président du conseil départemental du Calvados #ADF