Overview

• The Charente Departmental Council missed the April 15 deadline to adopt its 2025 budget due to a lack of quorum caused by boycotts from opposition and dissident councillors.
• The prefecture has granted the council a last chance to vote on the €615 million budget on April 22, temporarily avoiding immediate prefectoral control.
• Political fractures persist following a split in the left-wing majority in September 2024, with the splinter group 'La Charente au cœur' abstaining from prior votes.
• President Philippe Bouty faces calls for resignation from opposition and dissident councillors, who accuse him of governance failures and mismanagement.
• Failure to adopt the budget could lead to the regional court of audit drafting a new budget under prefectoral oversight, a rare occurrence for a department of this size.