The debate in the Assembly on “National Defence” and “drug trafficking” could take place on December 10 and 17, the Ministry of Relations with Parliament proposed on Tuesday, while Sébastien Lecornu wants to rely on this discussion to get the State budget out of the ordinary.
This “debate”, in application of article 50-1 of the Constitution, takes the form of the government’s declaration of an issue, prior to the intervention of each parliamentary group, and the government’s response to their questions.
The discussions have no legislative value, but could result in a vote, if the government so decides, and according to many sources, this is the preferred hypothesis at this stage. A date and a decision on whether to call for a vote or not still have to be set in a letter from the Prime Minister to National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet.
Heading to a vote on increasing the Defense budget?
The head of government announced his desire on Monday to submit various thematic debates to Parliament so that the groups can position themselves directly on these topics alongside the debates on the State budget and Social Security, the adoption of which is currently very uncertain.
The increase in Defense credits (+6 billion euros) is often put forward by the government camp as an argument for adopting a draft state budget before 31 December, rather than passing a special law that would allow the state to operate, but without massive investment.
“If the Prime Minister proposes an increase in this budget (for defence), then the results of this vote will be integrated later,” government spokesperson Maud Bregeon explained on Monday on BFMTV.
The Armed Forces will be the “first victims” of the failure of budget discussions, explained Sébastien Lecornu, former Minister of the Armed Forces, in a Monday morning speech from Matignon. “He has to guide the debate, and find leverage to move things in the direction he wants,” explained a person close to the Prime Minister.
“It saves time. Their goal is to stay on the horse as long as possible,” according to a National Rally executive.
