The principle of budgetary honesty in France: from hope to disillusionmen

Authors

  • François Barque

Keywords:

French Constitutional Council, sincerity for finance, financial principles

Abstract

The french budget law is undergoing deep changes. One manifestation of these changes is the emergence of the principle of law sincerity. Created by the Constitutional Council and confirmed by the Organic Law of 1 August 2001, this new rule that the budget estimates are not deceitful.
This article offers an assessment through an analysis of the jurisprudence of the constitutional court in charge of controlling the budget sinceriy. This balance can only be negative.
Sincerity has raised great hopes. Many people considered it a good way to control the government and restore the parliament financial power. This sense of hope could be justified by some decisions of the judge. In these, the court showed its principle, by defining it precisely and by granting it a constitutional value. However, paradoxically, the same judge decided to control the budget honesty taking a lot of precautions. This low control explains that today disillusion has replaced hope.

Issue

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