The Justice budget, which will be presented this Thursday, October 10, “will not be satisfactory”, declared Minister of Justice Didier Migaud Tuesday evening before the Law Committee of the National Assembly. “I cannot tell you more,” continued the Minister of Justice, affirming however to be “mobilized” so that “the main commitments are kept, particularly in terms of staffing” of magistrates or even clerks.
“We have a problem with the execution of the 2024 budget and we also have a problem with the 2025 budget from the moment the ceiling letter which was sent and which will be taken up, at least initially, by the current government and which will be presented to you, represents -487 million for the justice budget for 2025″, specified the minister. “I think that the Prime Minister is entirely aware of the priority that must be maintained for the sovereign and I think that his decisions will go entirely in this direction”, however added Didier Migaud in response to questions from deputies.
Public finances “more degraded than expected”
The head of government must present the state budget for 2025 to the Council of Ministers on Thursday. Michel Barnier called for a reduction in the public deficit to 5% next year, before falling below the maximum European threshold of 3% at horizon 2029, two years later than what was promised by the previous government.
In his speech handing over power to Didier Migaud on September 23, Eric Dupond-Moretti stressed that it was “essential” that the law sanctifying the justice budget be “respected”, in particular to allow the planned hiring of 1 500 additional magistrates, 1,800 clerks, more than 1,100 contract workers and the continuation of the plan to build 18,000 additional prison places.
Traveling to Dijon on Friday, Didier Migaud promised to “ensure that justice is always considered a priority”, despite public finances being “more deteriorated than expected”. “You can count on me to defend the interests of this ministry and ensure that justice is always considered a priority,” he added in a speech. “Justice has often been considered a poor relation. A correction has been made. It is important to continue the effort,” he continued.