MEPs will resume consideration of the 2023 draft budget on Monday, as the government prepares to unleash the constitutional weapon of 49.3 to force adoption of the revenue part, during an already socially busy week.
“We will certainly have to resort to 49.3 but, contrary to what Jean-Luc Mélenchon says (apart from his ‘march against the high cost of living’, editor’s note), it will not be tomorrow”, Monday, secured Sunday afternoon Terminal Elisabeth on TF1.
Speculation abounds about when the Prime Minister will choose: Wednesday, the theoretical day of the end of discussions in the Chamber, or even later? Tuesday is less likely, in full day of interprofessional “mobilization and strike” initiated by the CGT.
Several defeats of the presidential majority
“I want the debate to take place,” he said. “Let’s go as far as possible,” the Minister of Public Accounts, Gabriel Attal, previously said, although as the days go by “the bill is getting heavier” with last week’s votes that already resulted in 8,000 million euros in additional expenses.
“Depends on how it goes” with the opposition: “If it became something more difficult, or if we had a really huge loss (during a vote, editor’s note), maybe we should consider moving things forward,” he slides. a source within the executive.
The government has already been defeated many times: the key objective of containing the public deficit to 5% of GDP in 2023 has been erased, the “exit tax” relative to the fiscal exile of businessmen has been reestablished, and tax credits are voted for all residents in Ehpad or for the energy rehabilitation of homes.
The MoDem group, a member of the majority, even approved an increase in the taxation of “super dividends” without the approval of the government. But despite some spikes in tension, there was no obstruction, which didn’t give the government a chance to trigger an unlock via 49.3.
More than 2,000 amendments remain to be considered, of the more than 3,400 submitted, as of Monday with the Nupes proposal to restore the ISF. And there are big issues to come, such as the taxation of “super profits” perhaps on Monday, the abolition of the CVAE, a tax on companies, and even the energy tariff shield.
“The search for commitment is done until the end”
In the equation of 49.3, social protest also weighs. “It is better to solve the problem of the TotalEnergies refineries” before putting the responsibility of the government at stake and facing the motions of censure announced by the Nupes and the RN, explains a government source.
The motions in question are almost ready and have little chance of being adopted – RN deputies will not vote “a priori” on the Nupes motion, said its boss Marine Le Pen. And vice versa for the left.
The government has the option of submitting whatever version it wishes to 49.3, whether or not it retains the voted amendments or simply submits them. The discussions are already going well to calibrate the text and Elisabeth Borne must exchange on Monday with the presidents of the three majority groups.
“The search for commitment is carried out until the end”, they say within the Executive, in line with the “new method”.
The week will be long, and possibly complicated again. The Assembly should in principle begin the examination of the Secu budget project for 2023 on Thursday, with 49.3 also planned there, as soon as the examination of the income part is finished, or even before.
Source: BFM TV
