On Sunday evening, the National Rally (RN) seemed to close the door to any compromise, given the government “discussion closed” on possible changes to the social security budget, Marine Le Pen, president of the RN group in the National Assembly, told Agence France-Presse.
“The government has expressed its desire not to amend the PLFSS [projet de loi sur le financement de la Sécurité sociale]it is extremely clear and we have taken note of it”he clarified based on the statements of the Minister of Public Accounts, Laurent Saint-Martin, to the newspaper the Parisian. In the process, and to put out the fire, michel Barnier’s entourage announced that the latter “remain open to dialog”.
Should we consider this a disavowal of Laurent Saint-Martin? The Bercy tenant assured on Saturday Parisian that the government will not make new concessions on the social security budget, despite the threat of censorship posed by the RN. “This text is no longer that of the government but the result of a parliamentary compromise between deputies and senators through a final joint commission, something that had not happened for fifteen years on the Budget. Returning to it would mean sitting on Parliament, on democracy and on deliberation, whose compromise we respect”he said.
“In an interview this morning, Minister Laurent Saint-Martin indicates that the bill on social security financing for 2025 will no longer be amended. Of which act. Through stubbornness and sectarianism, the government minority therefore puts an end to the cycle of negotiations, risking provoking censorship.”for his part, the president of the RN, Jordan Bardella, believes ON.
Marine Le Pen regretted that Michel Barnier’s government did not want to “move forward on elements that seem unacceptable to us”. The RN in particular cited as “absolute red line” the partial de-indexation of pensions with respect to inflation,foreseen in the budget project. “We will not let the French be robbed to right the wrongs of seven years of Macronism (…).There is a possibility that we will draw the consequences of this extremely closed and sectarian behavior.”he added, according to AFP. The executive can modify the text until the last moment,that is,Monday afternoon. The Assembly will meet from 3.00 pm.
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“Grants” awarded to the navy
At the same time, the situation was also tense in the Senate, which was concluding the examination of another part of the budget: the revenue part of the finance law.On Sunday the left-wing elected officials left the chamber during the debates, denouncing a “Force” of the government and the right, who asked for the review of several dozen measures, a few hours before the adoption of the text. They criticize the attitude of the government and the senatorial majority – a center-right alliance – who both called for a second deliberation on these measures, although they were voted by show of hands during the week, most of the time against the opinion of the financial committee and Laurent Saint-Martin.
“we have just invented a new tool: senatorial 49.3. We spend hours, day and night, voting on measures and finding compromises. And with a wave of the hand the deliberations are swept away. This is a real democratic problem in a serious economic and social moment.”according to the AFP he was indignant towards the socialist Thierry Cozic (Sarthe).
“This government is a minority. He has chosen instead to turn to his right and his extreme right, refuting all the arguments of the left and he is realizing that this will not change anything in the attitude of the National Rally”who threatens him with censorship, added the communist pascal Savoldelli (Val-de-marne), the ecologist thomas Dossus (Rhône) denouncing him as a “extra push”.
“This is in no way a denial of democracy”insisted Laurent Saint-Martin for his part, “It’s about raising the issue of financial balance”he added. According to government estimates, the budget as amended by the Senate, without corrections, would have worsened the budget balance by 5.8 billion euros, considered incompatible with the goal of 60 billion euros in savings set by the executive.
This second resolution thus allowed the reopening of numerous delicate debates, in particular on the price of energy, one of the red lines of the National Grouping in terms of threats of censorship. The Senate had already eliminated the possibility for the government to increase electricity taxation above the pre-energy crisis level, before Michel Barnier’s announcement on the same topic.
the senatorial right, though, compensated for this measure with an increase in the gas tax, a measure which it finally agreed to eliminate on Sunday, at the government’s request. Several left-wing senators couldn’t help but see «measurers» given to the RN, while Marine Le Pen had expressed her opposition to this measure in recent hours.
What are the potential consequences of Marine Le Pen’s hardline stance on pensions for the National Rally’s future?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Political Expert
Editor: Welcome, everyone, to this special edition of Time.news! Joining us today is Dr. Claire Lefèvre, a political analyst with extensive expertise in French politics. Claire, thank you for being here.
Dr. Lefèvre: Thank you for having me! It’s a pleasure to discuss such a critical topic.
Editor: Let’s jump right in.Recent events surrounding the National Rally (RN) and the government’s stance on the social security budget have sparked quite the debate. Marine Le Pen mentioned that the government has effectively closed the door to any compromise. How significant is this stance?
Dr. Lefèvre: It’s very significant. Le Pen’s declaration signals a definite hardening of positions from the National Rally. The RN’s refusal to entertain any further discussions on the social security budget reflects their strategy of positioning themselves as the defenders of the French public against perceived government overreach. This could galvanize their base and attract undecided voters who might feel neglected by mainstream politics.
Editor: Laurent Saint-Martin, the Minister of Public Accounts, insisted that the proposed budget reflects a compromise between deputies and senators, and that changes at this stage woudl undermine democracy. How valid is this argument?
Dr. Lefèvre: It’s a complex argument. On one hand, he’s right that the legislative process has been arduous, and reverting to earlier stages could disrupt the parliamentary framework. Though, the concept of democracy must include the ability for representatives to adapt to the concerns of their constituents. If significant segments of the population feel their needs are being ignored—like the issue of pension indexing—it could undermine public trust in the entire democratic process.
Editor: Le Pen mentioned that one of the RN’s red lines is the partial de-indexation of pensions concerning inflation. What might the implications of this stance be for the population?
Dr. Lefèvre: The ramifications could be severe. By indicating that they will resist any cuts to pensions, the RN is tapping into widespread anxieties about financial security, especially among senior citizens who often feel the brunt of economic policy changes. Pensions are a politically sensitive topic, and any perceived threat to them can mobilize significant public outrage, potentially benefiting the RN and other opposition parties.
Editor: There’s also talk of potential censorship due to the government’s stubbornness. How likely is that, and what could that meen for the upcoming Assembly meeting?
Dr. Lefèvre: While the RN has threatened censorship, the likelihood of it actually happening depends on several factors, including the unity of the opposition and the government’s response. If the assembly convenes and tensions rise,it could lead to attempts to censure the government,which would be a historic move considering the current political climate. this situation could either reassert the RN’s influence or, conversely, present them as the instigators of chaos—something they have to tread carefully to avoid.
Editor: Last question, Claire. Amidst these tensions,do you believe there’s a chance for a compromise before the Assembly meets?
dr. Lefèvre: It’s hard to say. Given the rhetoric from both sides, it seems unlikely. However, the very nature of politics is negotiation and compromise. If the government recognizes the need to address some of the RN’s concerns, especially regarding pensions, there might still be room for dialog. but after Le Pen’s statements, I think we must approach the upcoming assembly meeting with caution.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Lefèvre,for your insights today. As we can see, the political landscape in France remains volatile, and the upcoming Assembly meeting will be crucial in determining next steps.We’ll keep our audience updated on these developments.
Dr. Lefèvre: Thank you for having me! I’m looking forward to seeing how this unfolds.
Editor: And thank you to our viewers for tuning in. Stay informed,and we’ll see you next time!