In the National Assembly we no longer ask “if” but “when” the government will activate article 49.3 of the Constitution. Since the start of the budget review (the budget bill, or PLF), setbacks have been linked to Gabriel Attal, Minister of Public Accounts, and the presidential majority.
The latter was divided into a tax on superdividends and was not sufficiently present in the chamber to prevent the opposition from passing various amendments. “There we are suffering,” a member of the presidential majority told BFMTV on Thursday afternoon.
Towards a Monday of 49.3, on the eve of the strike?
“We are experiencing a political crisis!” Summarizes a rebel deputy. Because if the Government takes out 49.3, it can easily cross out the amendments that the opposition has voted for: a tax credit for all residents of nursing homes, a tax on superdividends…
The presidential majority believes that, despite some setbacks, the debates are going well. As Bruno Le Maire announced, a 49.3 should not come this week.
In the halls of the Palais Bourbon, we heard that this key article of the Constitution could be activated instead on Monday, BFMTV learned late at night. Or the day after the march against the high cost of living organized by the Nupes. But also the day before the interprofessional strike day on Tuesday, October 18.
“Waiting until Monday is pointless…”
For the government, the schedule is quite tight. In the case of 49.3, the debate on a motion of censure (which will be presented immediately by the opposition) “must take place no later than the third day of the session following the expiration of the constitutional term of forty-eight hours following the deposit “. ”, indicates the regulation of the National Assembly.
However, on Thursday, deputies are due to begin debating the Social Security Financing Bill. Therefore, in order not to delay consideration of this other key budget text, a 49.3 on the PLF must arrive by Monday night at the latest.
While Horizons and MoDem advocate reaching the end of the debates, the majority of the majority deputies live each day they spend in the dock, as one day too many.
“Waiting for Monday makes no sense…”, argue some Renaissance deputies. Several tired and unmotivated elected members would have preferred the article to be unsheathed this weekend. “I won’t be here tomorrow, Friday, it’s constituency!” a deputy argued to BFMTV on Thursday afternoon.
“We will see how the debates develop”
But, how to trigger 49.3 if there is no parliamentary obstruction and the debates, in the opinion of everyone, both the opposition and the majority, are going well? “Today the oppositions are changing their speech saying that they want to ‘co-construct the budget’ but in the end they are not going to vote!” laments a source from the majority.
“We will see how the debates develop. But going to the end to have an opposition that insists on telling us that they will not vote for the text, that does not make much sense, ”says the entourage of Franck Riester, the minister in charge of Relations with Parliament.
On the Nupes side, we expect an attempt to shake up the debate to provoke a crisis. But “contrary to what they had anticipated, there are no obstructions or interruptions,” said a left-wing elected official.
“And the approved amendments are with part of his troops. With 49.3 they have the power to erase all or part of it. But how to explain that they respect Parliament when majorities of ideas arise? ”, He asks.
Source: BFM TV
