The French government is preparing a bill to lighten norms applying to local authorities, consisting of 40 articles. This text, consulted by Le Monde, will be presented to the Council of Ministers after the April municipal elections. It aims to give more freedom of action to elected officials to adapt rules to territorial realities.
The government led by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is continuing its efforts to simplify norms burdening local authorities. Following the publication on February 21 of a first 'mega-decree' for simplification, the executive is finalizing the legislative aspect of this initiative, pending a decentralization bill.
The bill 'on the simplification of norms applicable to local authorities,' consulted by Le Monde, was detailed on February 27 to associations of local elected officials. Comprising 40 articles, it is described as 'modest and concrete' by the Minister for Territorial Planning and Decentralization, Françoise Gatel, during a Senate hearing on February 18. She specified that it is not an 'operation coup de poing.'
In the statement of reasons, the government states: 'It is about giving more freedom of action to take into account the realities of each territory. Local authorities must be able to devote themselves to their territorial project without wasting time due to obsolete and useless rules.' Sébastien Lecornu had called some of these rules 'surrealistic' at the closing of the mayors' congress on November 20, 2025, adding: 'I wish the start of the next municipal term to take place in the greatest simplicity.'
The presentation to the Council of Ministers is scheduled after the April municipal elections, followed by examination in the Senate.
