The Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire called on the deputies to “dialogue” with the government to “improve” the finance bill (PLF) for 2023, at the opening on Monday of the examination of the budgetary texts before the ‘National Assembly.
“Let’s dialogue, it’s the only way to improve this draft budget for 2023, which by definition remains perfectible”, said the minister in the hemicycle, while the opposition criticizes the government for wanting to “force through” via the recourse to the constitutional weapon of 49.3.
“There is no budget battle, there is a debate on the budget”, continued Mr. Le Maire, urging parliamentarians to have exchanges “at the height of the deep concerns of our compatriots”.
The Minister doubled his call for dialogue with a call for responsibility, reproaching the oppositions for having adopted “more than 7 billion additional expenses” during the examination of the PLF in the Finance Committee last week.
He also sent a message in particular to the Les Républicains group, saying he was surprised “at the inconsistency of parliamentarians who say they are committed to reducing deficits but who refuse to vote for a text that goes in this direction”.
“I therefore call on them to remain faithful to their convictions, rather than uniting with the Nupes or the National Rally,” said Mr. Le Maire, himself an ex-LR.
“Certainly there is a relative majority, but there is no alternative majority. So let’s work together, ”also pleaded the Minister Delegate for Public Accounts, Gabriel Attal.
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“We cannot allow the debate to get bogged down. We cannot take the risk of leaving France without a budget, at a time when there are so many threats,” he said.
“Our collective responsibility is to build compromises, but to refuse the blockage”, he continued, before the examination of two prior rejection motions filed by the Nupes.
Too expensive for the right, “austerity” for the left, “submitted” to Brussels according to the RN: the oppositions have ruled out supporting this budget.
Recourse to Article 49.3 of the Constitution therefore seems inevitable today. In the hands of the executive, this tool makes it possible to pass a text without a vote, unless a motion of censure is adopted.