While the government, deprived of an absolute majority in the Assembly, could draw 49.3 on the first part of the 2024 budget as early as Wednesday, the president of the Renaissance group Sylvain Maillard defends the method, believing that “everyone has been able to present their positions”.
“There is no mystery (…) the oppositions decided they would vote against. We don’t want to have a discussion that doesn’t make sense. Yes, there will be a 49.3 quite quickly,” the Paris MP declared on Wednesday to the parliamentary press (AJP), without however confirming whether the ax would fall the same day.
“Everyone was able to present their positions” during the general discussion on Tuesday, “let’s not pretend to be discussing,” the group president further defended. “That does not mean that we will not discuss part two”, devoted to state expenditure and which will be examined in session from October 31, continued Mr. Maillard, calling for debates on Education, the Armed Forces, the police, the ecological transition… in particular to defend the investments made.
Around ten 49.3s by the end of the year?
According to several parliamentary and ministerial sources, Elisabeth Borne could come from late Wednesday afternoon in the Assembly hemicycle hold its government accountable for the “revenue” aspect of the 2024 Finance Bill (PLF), as it did in September for the public finance programming bill.
In total, the Prime Minister should use the constitutional weapon around ten times by the end of the year on the State and Social Security budgets, and will be exposed to potential motions of censure. At least two must be submitted by the LFI and RN groups. But their chances of success are very low, as long as the Republicans do not join in.
Once 49.3 is triggered, all eyes will turn to the final text of the government, which can use the constitutional procedure to retain or reject any amendment tabled. The executive must deal with its investment promises in the ecological transition, fuel allowance and increase in the number of civil servants and its desire to reduce the public deficit to 4.4% in 2024.
“This 4.4% trajectory is fundamental for us,” explained Sylvain Maillard. “ The more the State goes into debt, the more the interest rate increases.for each of us,” he insisted.