The tone rose again in the Assembly: in slow motion, the deputies continued Monday in a tumultuous atmosphere the examination of the draft budget 2023, while the government is preparing to use the constitutional weapon of 49.3, during already a socially busy week.
The session started in the afternoon with about twenty points of order. And it was enamelled with tensions as when the macronist Fanta Berete reproached the rebellious for being a “group of tiktokers looking for the buzz”.
The oppositions pounded in chorus the “masquerade“of the executive whom they reproach for not clarifying when the tool of 49.3 will be triggered – which allows a text to be passed without a vote – or which amendments it intends to retain.
In the absence of an absolute majority in the Assembly, the government is indeed preparing to resort to this constitutional weapon. And he has the freedom to retain or reject amendments voted by the National Assembly or not yet examined.
“The National Assembly is not the Samaritan woman, we do not make our market between the amendments which please the government and those which do not please”said the president of the RN Marine Le Pen group.
“As far as possible”
Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire accused the opposition of “refuse to compromise, it was you who chose 49.3”.
Speculation is rife on the moment expected by Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne to draw this weapon: Wednesday, the theoretical day of the end of discussions in the hemicycle, or even later? Tuesday seems less likely, due to the interprofessional strike day.
“Let’s go as far as possible”said the Minister of Public Accounts Gabriel Attal, even if over the days “the bill is getting heavier” with votes last week already resulting in 8 billion euros in additional expenditure.
What amendments will be accepted? Ms. Borne exchanged Monday morning with the presidents of the three majority groups.
Bruno Le Maire has already said yes to a reduction in corporate tax for “small SMEs” (supported by MoDem and LR). Laurent Marcangeli (Horizons group, member of the majority) thinks “to have been heard” for a “security net” for communities.
The government also wants to remove a tax advantage on the fuel of private jets.
The executive, on the other hand, opposes an end of inadmissibility to the MoDem proposal for the taxation of “superdividendes“of large companies, adopted in session last week with the support of the left, the RN and some Renaissance voices.
Bruno Le Maire judged this amendment on Monday “deeply unjust”, car “it only applies to French companies, as always and not to foreign companies”.
“Full of excavations”
More than 2,000 amendments remain to be examined, out of the more than 3,400 tabled.
On Monday, the debate dragged on on the proposal from the left and the RN to restore the solidarity tax on wealth, the partial abolition of which was a marker of the previous five-year term. “The president of the rich is the enemy of the poor”thundered the leader of LFI Mathilde Panot, targeting Emmanuel Macron.
During a long suspension, the majority had sounded the recall of the troops to avoid a new disappointment. And the presidential camp was able to reject the amendments on the subject, with the support of the few LRs present.
Same vote against an “exceptional contribution from the highest estates” of “very very rich”. Gabriel Attal denounced the proposal “confiscatory” et “unconstitutionalde LFI.
“Pay attention”, warned the communist Nicolas Sansu to the address of the executive. “The richest 0.1% will dig deep… At some point, it will no longer be tenable”.
Rare amendment to pass, a device carried by Paul-André Colombani (Liot group) against the “real estate over-speculation” in Corsica, by an increase in taxation on real estate capital gains.
But in the text submitted to 49.3, the government could favor the expansion of “zoning” where municipalities are authorized to increase the housing tax for second homes.
Major subjects remain to come in the hemicycle, such as the taxation of “superprofits“.
In the equation of 49.3 also weighs social protest. “It is better to solve the problem of TotalEnergies refineries” before bringing into play the responsibility of the government and being confronted with the motions of censure announced by the Nupes and the RN, underlines a government source.