Reincarnated: Vive La France
Chapter 240: Final Budget

Chapter 240: Final Budget

Reynaud lifted his pen. "Bond issuance is prepared. We will peg initial rates to sterling and prepare conversion measures."

Auriol looked around the table. "We’ve written a new page. Not just a budget. A promise."

Moreau closed his binder. "Then we move. Not as a clique. Not as a regime. But as a Republic."

Outside the chamber, aides and clerks waited for instructions.

They carried folders of final drafts and stamped forms.

Some would travel to Lyon, others to Algiers or Bordeaux.

That night, France’s ministries would not sleep.

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1937 Emergency National Budget

Provisional Government of the French Republic

Date: April 12, 1937

Presented by: Étienne Moreau, Head of State

Total Allocation: ₣100,000,000,000

National Reconstruction & Infrastructure – ₣30,000,000,000

Program Allocation Notes on Adjustment

National Highway Network ₣8 billion.

Continues integration of rural motor routes

Railway Expansion (Industrial Corridors)

₣7 billion Maintains support for coal, steel, military railways

Urban & Rural Housing (Phased) ₣4 billion.

Reduced ₣1 billion, staggered renewal in Paris and secondary cities.

Rural Electrification & Winter Heating.

₣5 billion Increased ₣1 billion after feedback that classrooms and homes lacked light and heat.

Port & River Dredging (Navy & Trade).

₣3.5 billion Increased ₣0.5 billion for Le Havre, Marseille, Rhône canals to address union protests.

Strategic Airfields & Access Roads.

₣2.5 billion Reduced ₣0.5 billion; remaining budget supports dual-use infrastructure.

Justification: Heavy investment in rural electrification, public housing, and logistic waterways reflects feedback from prefectures and local transportation networks. This ensures survival through winter and jump-starts economic growth.

Industrial Modernization & Innovation ₣20,000,000,000

Initiative Allocation Notes on Adjustment

Steel & Foundry Consolidation (Lorraine(.

₣4 billion No change essential to long-term industrial output.

Aviation Construction (Civil & Military)

₣6 billion Increased ₣1 billion for dual-use production qircraft factories create civilian jobs.

Petrochemicals & Synthetic Fuels ₣2 billion

Decreased ₣1 billion to reallocate to signals of growth.

Automobile Plant Expansion ₣3 billion

Retained to boost transport and logistics

National Innovation Bureau (R&D) ₣2 billion

Unchanged priority for future industry

Machinery Imports & Technical Training

₣3 billion Maintained to cultivate skilled workforce.

Justification: Adjustments direct factory production toward transport and aviation, matching regional requests for employment and strategic readiness.

Military Readiness & Engineering Corps – ₣15,000,000,000

Initiative Allocation Notes on Adjustment

Tank & Artillery Expansion ₣4 billion Remains to secure deterrent capacity.

Maginot Line & Coastal Fortifications.

₣3 billion Unchanged strategic defense expenditure.

Concealed Civil Aviation Production ₣3 billion

Continues dual-use build

Weapons R&D & Industrial Mobilization Units

₣0.5 billion Reduced ₣1.5 billion to fund youth and engineering programs

Military Engineering Corps ₣3.5 billion Increased ₣0.5 billion for civilian worksites and training

Justification: The Engineering Corps was increased in response to demands for employment and regional construction, balancing defense and public works.

Agriculture, Food & Rural Support – ₣10,000,000,000

Program Allocation Notes on Adjustment

Farm Equipment Subsidies ₣3.5 billion

Increased ₣0.5 billion feedback, planting season requires mechanization

Agricultural Credit Banks ₣1.5 billion

Maintained access to loans for smallholders

Price Supports for Grain & Milk ₣1 billion

Sustained to avoid rural impoverishment

Land Reclamation & Irrigation ₣2 billion Long-term improvement for soil and jobs

Emergency Food Storage Reserves ₣2 billion Up ₣1 billion to buffer supply shocks

Justification: Rebalanced toward planting, food storage, and credit; designed to stabilize pricing and support farmer incomes after communal pressure.

Social Welfare & Public Services – ₣10,000,000,000

Program Allocation Notes on Adjustment

Veterans’ Pensions & War Widows ₣2.5 billion

Unchanged, honoring wartime sacrifices

Rural Health Clinics & Posts ₣2 billion

Unchanged, key to hygiene and rural care

Vocational Training Schools ₣3 billion

Continues workforce development

Work Camps & Youth Civic Service ₣2 billion

Unchanged with modest expansion after feedback

Emergency Housing & Child Allowances

₣0.5 billion New line added to support displaced families

Justification: The newly added social safety net reflects nationwide appeals to support families, children, and the war-impacted population.

Colonial Economic Integration – ₣7,000,000,000

Project Allocation Notes on Adjustment

Algerian, Senegal, Indochinese Railroads

₣2.5 billion Unchanged vital for long-term integration

Mineral Extraction (Gold, Bauxite) ₣2 billion

Provides resource input for industry

Cash Crops & Agricultural Export Growth

₣1.5 billion Retained to support colonial markets

Franc Zone Stability Fund ₣1 billion Maintains currency integrity across empire

Justification: Reactions favored agricultural support and export integration; budgets remain steady to preserve linkages.

Currency & Financial Stabilization – ₣4.8,000,000,000

Measure Allocation Notes on Adjustment

Franc Stabilization Reserve ₣2 billion Core value protection

Gold & Commodity Reserve Acquisition

₣1 billion Maintains import confidence

Tax Amnesty for Returning Capital ₣1 billion Secures hard currency return

Cross-Ministry Audit & Transparency Office

₣0.8 billion New fund to prevent misuse, mandated by Mandel

Justification: Transparency demands and stability combine to provide safeguards and restore domestic confidence.

National Cohesion & Information – ₣3.2,000,000,000

Initiative Allocation Notes on Adjustment

National Radio & Film Expansion ₣1.5 billion

Bonded to R&D and factory messaging

Local Exhibitions & Civic Celebrations

₣0.7 billion Traditional culture for unity

Curriculum Media & Documentary Production

₣0.8 billion Civic education support

Ministry of Information Oversight & Audit

₣0.2 billion Oversight to counter misinformation

Justification: Clear response to disinformation, ideological pamphlets, and union demands; message: transparent unity.

Ttal Confirmed Budget – ₣100,000,000,000

Summary of Key Adjustments:

Rural electrification +₣1B

Housing phased reduction –₣1B

Aviation fund +₣1B

Engineering Corps +₣0.5B

Youth/emergency housing +₣0.5B

Port dredging +₣0.5B

Audit office +₣0.8B

Colonial, defense, innovation seed funds retained

Stability and transparency measures added

Ministerial Notes & Implementation Directive

Funding is ticketed for execution beginning April 15, 1937.

All ministries must conduct regional town-hall previews between April 14–16. Prefects must sign off by April 17.

Any major objections or oversight complaints to be submitted by April 18.

Budget Bill will be formally tabled in the Chamber on April 20.

Once received, Parliament will vote within ten days implementation to start immediately, contingent on signature.

Official Public Notice

"The Government of the French Republic presents this draft Emergency Budget, based on ₣100 billion in available resources, for the fiscal year 1937–’38.

This document reflects the will and input of France’s towns, workers, intellectuals, veterans, farmers, and colonial citizens.

In the spirit of openness and participatory governance, we will accept regional feedback through April 18.

We request national dialogue not distance.

On April 20, we will submit this Budget to Parliament for validation.

These are not just numbers they are futures. May France judge itself worthy."