The Social Security budget project was approved on Monday in the first reading in the Assembly, due to the rejection of two new motions of censure against the government, and despite the renewed support of the RN for the LFI. Elisabeth Borne, who could draw the constitutional weapon of 49.3 for the fourth time this week, dismissed the two opposition groups consecutively.
Their motions were mostly rejected by the National Assembly: the National Assembly received only 90 votes, and La France insoumise 218, far from the absolute majority of the 289 necessary votes. The entire 2023 Social Security budget bill is considered adopted at first reading and will move to committee in the Senate on Wednesday.
Already 49.3 for Social Security income items and State budget projects
Once again, the support of the RN deputies for the second motion was highlighted. The RN rapporteur Sébastien Chenu had indicated that the members of his group, “as free parliamentarians”, would vote on “any motion” for the executive to “revise its copy in the interest of France and the French”. A week ago, the support of Marine Le Pen’s group for a Nupes motion had created unrest in the leftist coalition and sparked criticism in the presidential camp. “You maintain the confusion”, repeated Elisabeth Borne this Monday, attacking the “great leader” of LFI Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
La France insoumise this time went alone to the left in presenting a motion. It was not filled from the left, missing 22 votes from the allies of the Nupes, including those of the head of the PCF Fabien Roussel and the socialist Valérie Rabault. The prime minister had already taken out 49.3 ten days ago to approve without a vote the income parts of the Social Security and State Budget projects. With this “repeated use”, Clémence Guette, for LFI, criticized a “brutal act”, “brilliant proof” of the “minority” of the presidential field, deprived of an absolute majority. “Then his government is hanging by a thread: 49.3!” She exclaimed.
Socialists and environmentalists insisted that they “would never vote for any RN motion.” And “their voices, we don’t want them”, urged Sébastien Jumel (PCF) addressing the far right benches. With the RN proposals, it is “a permanent Halloween for our humanist values”, according to Benjamín Lucas (EELV).
29% increase in “Ecology, sustainable development and mobility” credits
In support of 49.3, the executive invokes an impasse. The oppositions accuse him of inciting him to interrupt discussions on sensitive issues – medical merits, communities – and of not retaining amendments adopted against his opinion, which Elisabeth Borne rejects.
LR deputies, whose votes were needed to overthrow the government, refused like last week to “provoke institutional chaos”, according to Thibault Bazin. But “this is not worth a blank check to the government.”
Next, the parliamentarians resumed the examination of the appropriations “Ecology, development and sustainable mobility” of the State budget. Almost 29% more appear, which “is not up to the necessary efforts” according to the opposition. The Assembly approved a government amendment of 3,000 million euros, to help SMEs cope with the rise in energy prices in 2023, an “electric shock absorber” welcomed quite favorably by the deputies.
Hard to know how far the swaps will go, as a new 49.3 is mentioned in the state budget for this week. It would close the first reading of the budgets in the Assembly.
Source: BFM TV
