The discussions will undoubtedly be more heated in a few days in the hemicycle of the National Assembly. But this time, on the night of Friday October 13 to Saturday October 14, at the end of rather good debates, the deputies, meeting in committee, rejected by 19 votes to 16, a “revenue” section of the draft 2024 budget significantly revised.
Throughout the week, already, the Renaissance group has experienced a series of disappointments, the various oppositions – and sometimes members of the majority – having numerous tax measures adopted against the opinion of the rapporteur.
“One problem, one tax, we know this good old French recipe”quipped general rapporteur Jean-René Cazeneuve (Renaissance) on Friday, denouncing “an axis of Nupes/RN irresponsibility”who did not vote for the text Friday evening, despite his victories.
The president of La France insoumise (LFI) of the finance committee, Eric Coquerel, called on the government to “do not cancel” possible parliamentary victories in session “by 49.3”.
A scenario that encourages 49.3
Victories or defeats in committee are above all symbolic on budgetary texts, because it is the initial text which arrives in the hemicycle. But the commission’s scenario could encourage Elisabeth Borne to draw out the inevitable 49.3 more quickly than expected, which allows the government to choose which amendments it keeps or rejects.
“It smells more like [déclenchement] early “, estimated a Renaissance source on Friday. Amendments “breaking the balance” of the budget will not be accepted, has already warned the Minister of the Budget, Thomas Cazenave.
Friday, the deputies adopted against the opinion of the rapporteur a significant increase in taxes on financial transactions, or even a systematization of the tax on vacant housing, unless decided otherwise by a municipal council. Earlier in the week, the deputies had voted – also against the opinion of the rapporteur – a tax on superdividends, an idea already put forward last year by the head of the MoDem group and member of the majority Jean-Paul Mattei, but withdrawn by the government via 49.3. This year Mr. Mattei is back with greater taxation of buybacks by large companies of their own shares.
Jean-René Cazeneuve and Horizons and MoDem deputies voted on amendments to extend the contribution on the inframarginal rent of energy companies into 2024, i.e. a tax on excess profits. The socialist Christine Pirès Beaune had an amendment adopted for a tax credit for the remainder payable by all residents in nursing homes, a subject which also marked the budgetary debates at the end of 2022.
On housing, one of the hot points of this budget, opposition deputies, MoDem and Renaissance voted to delete a government proposal, which intends to refocus the system “zero interest loan” (PTZ) on the zones “tense”.