Public Finances
Deputies vote spending increases for 2026 budget
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Deputies in the finance commission have approved several spending increases in the 2026 finance bill, ranging from hundreds of millions to billions of euros. These amendments target cooperative cellars, social leasing, and renewable energies. As the revenues section continues in session, these hikes contrast with the government's planned savings.
The French state recorded a deficit of 125 billion euros in 2025, a 31.6 billion drop from 2024, thanks to robust tax revenues, Bercy announced on February 3. This improvement, the strongest since 2020, still hides ongoing debt pressures. Public spending remained steady, while revenues exceeded forecasts.
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Colombia's Comptroller General revealed in its report 'Financial Sustainability of Colombian Public Universities 2019-2024' that only one of the 34 public universities in the country achieves financial self-sustainability. The study highlights a high concentration of resources in four main institutions, exacerbating regional inequalities. Additionally, the system's pension liability reaches 10.3 trillion pesos in 2024.
The Minister of Public Accounts wants to launch a project on the payroll tax, which generates more than 17 billion euros annually. This measure, created in 1948, sparked intense debates in the National Assembly during the review of the social security financing bill. Despite numerous amendments, no reform has been adopted yet.