CESE President Claire Thoury announces citizen convention on public finances

Claire Thoury, the new president of France’s Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE), has announced the launch of a citizen convention focused on public finances. Scheduled to begin at the end of the month, the initiative will involve 150 citizens selected by lottery to debate and provide recommendations regarding the national budget and rising deficits.

Thoury described the CESE as the chamber of organized civil society and citizen participation, intended to support political democracy by providing a realistic perspective on social and economic issues. She emphasized the institution's role in communicating the lived realities and subtle signals of the population to the government.