Plan for Marseille, France 2030 investments or youth engagement contract: the National Assembly adopted on Tuesday, November 16 at first reading the entire 2022 draft budget, completed during the debates and presidential announcements, and judged “Electoralist” by oppositions.
The deputies largely voted this last budget of the five-year term by 348 votes against 205 and 8 abstentions, thanks to the support of the elected representatives of the majority. Right and left have spoken out against it. Between the presentation of the draft budget and the end of its first reading examination at the Palais Bourbon, 11.8 billion in additional spending was added, bringing the deficit forecast to 5% of GDP in 2022, with a negative balance of 155 Billions of Euro’s.
After the “Whatever the cost” during the health crisis, the government defends a budget of “Standardization” and investments for “Support the recovery”. The Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, praises the new growth, 6.25% expected in 2021 and 4% in 2022, and the drop in unemployment. “We are moving from the relaunch to the France of 2030”, welcomed the deputy La République en Marche (LREM) Cendra Motin.
On the right, Véronique Louwagie (Les Républicains, LR) lambasted a “Surge in electoral spending”, “Totally irresponsible”, five months before the presidential election. On the left, the socialist Christine Pires Beaune pointed out a “Record” of “149 government amendments to fill in the holes” a budget that looks like ” golf course “. The method has often bristled with opposition, especially the relatively rapid adoption of “The most expensive amendment of the Fifth Republic” (Valérie Rabault, PS). This is a promise of 34 billion euros to roll out over several years the France 2030 investment plan announced by Emmanuel Macron for “Reindustrialize” the country and “Decarbonize” the economy.
In 2022, the first tranche of this plan represents only 3.5 billion euros, but the opposition sees in the measure the symbol of a campaign budget, while Emmanuel Macron is not yet officially a candidate.
“Recycles existing measures”
“What is historic is that in the medium term, the long term, we have noted that France was going to invest 34 billion euros in future sectors such as nuclear power or low carbon aircraft”, claims the general rapporteur of the budget Laurent Saint-Martin (LREM).
Another addition, some 550 million for the “Youth employment contract” presented by the President of the Republic on November 2. The system will offer young people under 25 who are furthest from employment and studies an allowance of up to 500 euros per month in exchange for 15 to 20 hours of training and support. He must aim “At least 400,000 young people in 2022”. The left-wing opposition, which pleaded for an extension of the RSA to 18-24 year-olds, judges the provision ” late “ and “Insufficient”. That “Recycles existing measures”, criticizes rebellious Eric Coquerel who castigates “A pitiful record for social and fiscal justice”.
Faced with soaring energy prices, the National Assembly also validated the “Tariff shield” of the government: freezing of regulated gas prices and limitation to 4% of the regulated electricity tariff. The inflation allowance of 100 euros appears for its part in the corrected budget for 2021.
The government has further supplemented this 2022 PLF with its plan for Marseille, including 30 million in subsidies and 100 million in reimbursable advances from 2022 for transport. Or by measures for the harkis, with a first tranche of 50 million euros from 2022 to materialize the bill of ” repair “ promised to those Algerians who fought alongside the French army during the Algerian war.
Side ministerial spending, the government is assuming increases for the regal (armies, interior, justice), big winner of this vintage 2022.
The High Council of Public Finances (HCFP) regrets an insufficient debt reduction effort. At Bercy, it is suggested that growth above expectations in 2021 could make it possible to reap “3 to 5 billion euros” additional revenue, aimed at reducing the deficit and debt. The finance bill is expected Thursday before the Senate, dominated by the right, which could shorten the examination, in order to display its opposition to the text. The Assembly will have the last word for final adoption before Christmas.