‘No solid scientific basis’: learned society leaders decry budget cuts

Thirty-six representatives hit out at “short-sighted” cuts to French public spending

Presidents and vice-presidents from 35 French learned societies have sharply criticised the government’s decision to slash €10 billion from the budget for 2024 that was passed into law in December 2023.

The cuts, which were passed by decree and without parliamentary scrutiny in February, included a €904 million reduction in the higher education and research budget, provoking uproar from university leaders and researchers alike. In March, the French Academy of Sciences joined in with the calls to reverse the cuts to research spending.