Accused of wanting to force the way, Bruno Le Maire defends himself. The Minister of Economy responded this Monday to the opposition in the National Assembly and criticized it for having “rejected the commitment” and for having “chosen 49.3”, planned by the Executive to vote on the 2023 budget, in the absence of a majority in the Assembly
“You rejected the commitment. It was you who chose 49.3 (…). After the time for debate, the time for decision comes,” he proclaimed in the chamber.
The Government should resort to article 49.3 of the Constitution to approve the 2023 budget, annulling the vote of the deputies.
“Continue the debate until the end”
Before the deputies who accuse him of continuing a useless debate, while the next appeal to 49.3 is strongly anticipated, the minister himself explained.
“I hope that we continue with the debate, and that we follow it until the end of the articles that we have to study,” he called.
“I think it’s a useful debate (…), up to par”, justifies Bruno Le Maire.
Some amendments remain
Bruno Le Maire announced this Monday morning on BFMTV that, despite the use of 49.3, several amendments championed by the opposition will remain in next year’s budget.
This announcement did not fail to make the opposition in the National Assembly react as well, which led Bruno Le Maire to, once again, reply.
“Debate is yes, haggling is no,” he proclaimed, rejecting “backyard debates.”
Among the amendments possibly withheld, the minister mentioned a socialist proposal consisting of maintaining “5.5% VAT on masks”, another from the MoDem whose objective is to “lower the level of corporate tax” for “small SMEs” or even a LR measure to “raise the value of restaurant tickets from 11 to 13 euros”.
Source: BFM TV
