The deputies adopted at first reading (with 181 votes against 137) this draft amending budget, which aims to cushion for this end of the year the shock of the rise in prices.
“The text has been significantly enriched” during the debates, rejoiced the Minister Delegate for Public Accounts Gabriel Attal, hoping that it was “not just a parenthesis”.
“Through this vote, the National Assembly has adopted essential measures to continue to protect the daily lives of the French: exceptional energy check for 12 million households, financial aid for French people heating with wood, support for universities for their electricity bills. energy,” he added.
Despite the absence of an absolute majority, the government did not have to resort to article 49.3 of the Constitution for this text, unsheathed in recent weeks to pass the course of the first reading of the budgets of the State and Social Security for 2023.
The way in which Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne made use of this constitutional weapon – which allows the adoption of texts without a vote unless a motion of censure is adopted – has been denounced as a “forced passage” by the opposition.
The amending budget was able to be adopted at first reading thanks in particular to the abstention of the opposition groups LR and socialists, satisfied that some of their proposals have been heard.
– Wood heating –
The session went on until 3:15 a.m. on Wednesday, causing some cringe. Some deputies like the communist Sébastien Jumel deplored a rhythm that did not allow “a serene debate”.
This amending budget, the second of the year, contains measures to support universities in the face of rising energy prices and armies in the face of fuel prices. It also extends the discount of 30 cents per liter at the pump until November 15.
The project also provides for the payment of an energy check of 100 to 200 euros for the most modest households, ie an amount of 1.5 billion euros. Credits are also opened for aid to farmers.
Strongly criticized in recent weeks by the opposition, accusing it of not taking into account the 49.3 votes of the Assembly, the government has given the green light to several of their proposals.
The presidential majority and the opposition thus voted together in favor of a socialist amendment providing aid of 230 million euros for households heating with wood, whether logs or pellets, these cylindrical sticks whose prices explode.
Aid of 40 million euros, via another socialist amendment, was adopted in favor of associations working in food aid, which are increasingly in demand. As well as an LFI amendment to 8 million euros to allow a revaluation of the staff of municipal health centers.
An LR amendment to increase by 29 million euros the resources dedicated to “MaPrimeRénov'”, a device for aiding the thermal renovation of housing, was also voted. The adoption of another LR amendment removed for 2023 the criterion of condition of resources of the device when it comes to global renovations.
The Assembly also adopted aid of 5 million euros to the press to deal with the rise in the price of paper.
– No “return match” –
The presidential camp, on the other hand, united to reject proposals which had already animated the examination of the budget for 2023, refusing that this amending budget be a “return match”.
The left has unsuccessfully defended different versions of its “superprofit” tax proposal. The reinstatement of the exit tax, against the tax exile of entrepreneurs, and a system for taxing “superdividends” were discussed again and rejected.
MP LR Véronique Louwagie welcomed the “overtures of the government”, despite a deficit still “too high”.
“When we are actively looking for compromises we can find them, I hope the government will remember this for the future”, launched for his part the PS deputy Mickaël Bouloux, whose group abstained as LR.
The other components of the left alliance Nupes (LFI, PCF, EELV) on the other hand voted against the text. “The account is obviously not there for purchasing power”, lamented Marianne Maximi (LFI), while the communist Nicolas Sansu judged that the best anti-inflation measure would be an increase in wages.
On the side of the RN, which voted against the text, Jean-Philippe Tanguy deplored “insufficient measures”, in particular an extension deemed too short of the rebate at the pump.
The text must now be examined by senators.
