Elisabeth Borne resorts to 49.3 for the ninth time, LFI’s ninth motion of censure
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A few seconds after the adoption by the deputies of the “revenue” part of the 2023 draft budget, Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne triggered 49.3 for the ninth time, this time to have the “expenditure” part adopted without a vote. Denouncing “the authoritarianism of the government”, the LFI deputies replied by tabling a ninth motion of censure.
The “recipes” section adopted, a ninth 49.3 drawn, and a new motion of censure in the process… The National Assembly had an express session on Sunday, December 11, according to an already known scenario, on the eve of the last review week of the 2023 draft budget.
A few tens of seconds after seeing the “revenue” part adopted in a new reading, after the rejection of a motion of censure by the Insoumis, Élisabeth Borne went up to the podium to again brandish the constitutional weapon on the “expenses” part. and the whole finance bill.
In front of a very sparse hemicycle for this Sunday session, most of the deputies being in the constituency, the head of government “regretted” a “multiplication of motions (which) considerably limited the time for discussions”. Sunday’s received only 78 votes.
She assured not to abandon her “willingness to build compromises” and mentioned measures retained by the Senate on “the financing of public transport in Ile-de-France” or “the fight against unworthy housing in Overseas”.
The draft budget is about to be adopted
To this ninth 49.3, the LFI deputies responded with a ninth motion of censure from the left (including three from all of Nupes), against “the authoritarianism of the government (which) has no limit”.
The motion could be studied on Tuesday or Wednesday, but has little more chance of succeeding. Its rejection would mean adoption of the entire draft state budget in a new reading, before a final passage in the Senate, and a very likely tenth 49.3 next week in the Assembly to conclude its examination.
On Sunday, deputies from left and right took advantage of their speaking time on the previous LFI motion of censure to defend their positions and also address pension reform.
>> To read also: Budget: what you need to know about the use of 49.3 by the government
“You are in the minority so you are suppressing the vote”, accused Éric Coquerel (LFI), accusing the government of having dodged hot budget debates with 49.3, on local taxes in particular, or of having discarded adopted amendments, like the three billion investment in rail.
On retreats, “you will need much more than a 49.3 to get by,” he said. Elisabeth Borne defended in return a text enriched with contributions from the oppositions “on the half share of widows” or “on alternative fuels”.
A possible motion of censure coming from the right
Socialist Valérie Rabault criticized “thresholds” on the energy tariff shield which “will leave many local authorities on the floor”.
Véronique Louwagie (LR) criticized, like other elected officials, a “manifestly insincere budget” in view of the growth forecasts.
“We have so far shown kindness and patience in the interest of the country” but “the temptation to table our own motion of censure could gain ground,” she warned. An LR no-confidence motion would probably be the only one with a chance of mustering enough votes to bring down the government.
For the National Rally group, Alexandre Sabatou denounced an “overabundance” of 49.3 to prepare its “use for the terrifying pension reform
With AFP
France 24-Trans
