In the National Assembly, a battle is raging between the Nupes and the National Rally (RN): that for the post of chairman of the Finance Committee, which must traditionally go to the largest opposition group. A very strategic position since the Chairman of the Finance Committee sets the agenda of his committee but can in particular reject amendments concerning the State budget, request the opening of a parliamentary inquiry committee or even seize the competition authority.
Two names circulate on the left
With 89 deputies, this commission should therefore return to the National Rally but the Nupes, which adds up the ecological, rebellious, socialist and communist groups, declares 131 deputies and also wishes to obtain it by presenting a common candidate. “For us, it’s very clear, the Finance Committee is up to Nupes. The question that arises, is LREM ready, on the contrary, to give the Finance Committee to the National Front?” asks the national secretary of Europe Ecology Les Verts, Julien Bayou.
Two names circulate on the left: the rebellious Éric Coquerel and the former president of the socialist group, Valérie Rabault, mentioned for a time as the possible Prime Minister of Emmanuel Macron. On the side of the RN, there is no question of giving them this gift, Jean-Philippe Tanguy, deputy of the Somme and close to Marine Le Pen, candidate and intends to win the battle.
“We saw during the legislative elections that they had a program with variable geometry. There, I see that they have a group with variable geometry. We cannot have a group with variable geometry, we cannot be a group when it suits us and an intergroup when it suits us to rig the result of the committee presidencies”, he says.
A strategic position for the opposition?
The Chairman of the Finance Committee has an overview of the State budget and has broad powers. He can, for example, request the opening of a parliamentary commission of inquiry or lift tax secrecy and access the files of individuals and companies. He can know everything about the income of each other.
The custom is that the majority does not take part in the vote for this position reserved for the opposition. One question remains unanswered for now: what will Les Républicains do? Gérard Larcher, the President of the Senate has spoken out in favor of this commission returning to the National Rally. The negotiations promise to be intense until next Thursday, the day when the deputies will elect the chairman of the Finance Committee.