French Lawmakers Urge Budget Relief for Flood-Hit Regions

Amid severe flooding, officials from Ardèche and Loire request exemption from proposed budget cuts to aid recovery efforts.

Lawmakers from Ardèche and Loire have petitioned the French government to exempt their regions from a planned €5 billion budget reduction affecting local governments.
The recent floods have caused significant damage, particularly in Ardèche, where 70% of communities have fewer than 1,000 residents, complicating recovery efforts.
Deputy Hervé Saulignac and other officials argue that the proposed financial contributions from affected regions are unjust given the current crisis.
Greenpeace has suggested that oil and gas companies should contribute to recovery costs due to their role in climate change.
Insurance companies, prompted by the government, are accelerating compensation processes for those affected by the floods, with some insurers already offering extended support services.