Unlike the National Assembly, on Tuesday, the Senate refused on Wednesday 23 June to renew its confidence in the 2019-2025 military programming law (LPM). It is, for the right-wing opposition, the majority in the Luxembourg Palace, to protest against the lack of an update of this LPM, however “Promised”.
This vote is inconsequential for the government but it nevertheless constitutes a disavowal of the declaration of Prime Minister Jean Castex, who collected 236 votes against (LR, PS, CRCE with a communist majority, environmentalists) and 46 votes in favor. Only the RDPI groups, with a majority La République en Marche, and RDSE, with a radical majority, voted in favor. The centrists overwhelmingly abstained and the Indépendants group was divided between votes for and abstention.
With a global envelope of 295 billion euros over seven years, the 2019-2025 LPM provides for a clear increase in the defense budget after years of deflation. It was to be updated in 2021.
“I have decided, and I assume it, not to submit to Parliament at this precise moment a text to update the LPM”, said Jean Castex in front of the senators, adding that “This update will of course have to take place as soon as the economic and financial horizon is clarified”.
“Of course, yes, the circumstances have changed, but in an unfavorable sense (…). This is precisely why a law was needed! “ declared for his part the president of the Senate defense committee, Christian Cambon (LR), recalling that the Senate had supported “By an immense majority” the LPM in 2018.
The committee quantified the risks of additional costs not foreseen by the LPM at “8.6 billion euros”. “That’s eight times more than advertised! “ underlined Mr Cambon, who abstained during the vote.
” Lack of transparency “
“What we denounce is not these adjustments (…) it is the lack of transparency”, added Cédric Perrin (LR). “If there are additional expenses, it is necessary to discuss in a lucid manner and in full transparency the savings or sacrifices to be made elsewhere. “
The Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, expressed her “Perplexity” faced with the intention displayed by certain groups to abstain or to vote against the government’s declaration. “What are you going to vote against? Against improving the living conditions of those who risk their lives to protect you? Against better protection of the French? Against the implementation of the euro close to the law that you have voted? “ she said, deploring that the defense of the French is becoming the“Hostage of political quarrels”, which created a stir within the assembly.
“Make no mistake about it, we have only one objective, to give our armed forces the means to face up to their commitment”, affirmed the centrist Olivier Cigolotti, echoing the tributes and marks of support to the soldiers, expressed on all the benches.
On the left, Gilbert Roger (PS) judged that “It is a political mistake to refuse to consult Parliament on a public policy as major and strategic as the defense of the nation”.
As before the deputies, the Prime Minister announced a “Specific debate” to Parliament on the evolution of French military engagement in the Sahel.