A 49.3 triggered, a second approach: the battle over the unfinished state budget, the deputies chained Thursday with that of the Secu, criticized by the oppositions and also health professionals, and which should also lead to the use of the constitutional weapon. “The ball is in your court”, launched the deputies the Minister of Health François Braun, at the start of the discussions in the hemicycle. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne on Wednesday pledged the responsibility of her government to have the first part of the state budget adopted without a vote. The procedure has interrupted the ongoing debates on this text, but does not prevent the examination of the Social Security financing bill (PLFSS) for 2023.
“Leave time for debate”
But the exchanges could be interrupted there too by a 49.3, and quickly. “The oppositions do not want to open up the possibility (…) of letting us move forward. Under these conditions, we will also take our responsibilities,” Public Accounts Minister Gabriel Attal told AFP. The Council of Ministers on Wednesday authorized the use of 49.3, which could be activated before the weekend on the revenue side of this budget. Several leaders of the majority have pleaded in this direction, to avoid the same disappointments as in recent days in the hemicycle. The President of the National Assembly Yaël Braun-Pivet (Renaissance), asked the government to “allow time for debate”.
“Do not force hastily”, also pleaded Thursday morning at the podium the deputy LR Thibault Bazin. Even if in the end there is no amendment planned for a pension reform – an Elysian track which had aroused the ire of the opposition and the uneasiness of part of the majority – its examination promises to be very difficult for the executive. MEPs have tabled more than 3,000 amendments which, on paper, must be examined until October 26. Within this period, the motions of censure of the Nupes and the RN, which follow on from 49.3 on the state budget, must be put to the vote, which will occupy a few hours of additional sitting.
The PLFSS “is betting on health and solidarity” and “I am proud of it”, assured Thursday morning Mr. Braun, of which this is the first budget. He anticipates a sharp drop in the deficit to 6.8 billion in 2023 (17.8 billion this year), based on a spectacular drop in the Covid bill. It projects savings of 1.1 billion euros on the reimbursement of drugs and 250 million on analysis laboratories in particular.
Fight against fraud
The bill plans to improve prevention, with appointments at the key ages of life, and to reform the training of general practitioners by adding a fourth year with “priority” internships in medical deserts. It increases the fight against the “abuse” of work stoppages prescribed during teleconsultations. It is generally a question of sending a “message of firmness with regard to all fraudsters”, indicated Mr. Attal. The Minister announced an amendment so that non-pension allowances can no longer be paid from 2024 to non-European bank accounts.
The examination of the text in committee went rather calmly, but not without hitches. Several measures were voted against his opinion, such as compliance by companies with obligations in terms of gender equality in order to benefit from reductions in contributions. The left is pounding the imposed budgetary framework: for the socialist Arthur Delaporte, “it is sorely lacking in ambition”, and for Hadrien Clouet (LFI) “investments for our health system and our hospitals”. RN deputies deplore the absence of “major measures” to “straighten out our health system”.
This text does not find favor either in the eyes of elected LRs who pinpoint the lack of “efficiency” of health spending. Another pitfall for the government: several measures are strongly criticized by the professionals concerned. Reassembled against the requested savings, biologists and analysis laboratories are threatening a strike. Angry, the drug sector has already obtained setbacks from the government. In an already burning social context, a revolt of interns threatens: they are opposed to the fourth year and the planned ban on temporary work in the hospital for newly graduated caregivers.