Overview

• The Charente departmental council failed to adopt its 2025 budget by the April 15 deadline due to a lack of quorum caused by opposition and dissident councillors boycotting the session.
• The prefect initially threatened to seize financial control via the Regional Chamber of Accounts (CRC) but granted a temporary reprieve on April 16.
• The council has been authorized to reconvene on April 22 for a final attempt to vote on the €615 million budget proposal.
• Political infighting within the left-wing majority and a splinter group of six councillors have destabilized governance under President Philippe Bouty.
• This scenario highlights the rarity of potential state tutelle for a department, underscoring the severity of the ongoing political and administrative crisis.