The Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, announced that he was using article 49.3 of the Constitution to pass the Finance bill for 2025 without a vote in Parliament. The government now faces two motions of censure. And if at least 289 deputies vote for censure this Wednesday, December 4, which should be the case, the government will fall and the Finance bill will be rejected.
The problem? “ If the Social Security budget was censored, this means that on January 1st, your vital card no longer works », Explained Élisabeth Borne on November 24 on LCI. However, behind this concern lies a more nuanced reality than it seems.
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We will be able to continue to use our vital card in 2025
Indeed, if the finance bill for 2025 is rejected, Acoss (Central Agency of Social Security Organizations), which ensures the treasury of Social Security, will no longer be authorized to borrow to finance social benefits. However, according to Yannick Neuder (LR), the general rapporteur of the Social Security budget, public bodies have “ a few weeks of cash » in particular to continue to reimburse care. “Next March, who wants life cards to stop working? », he added this Monday, December 2 to the National Assembly.
However, France has legislative mechanisms to avoid this possible blockage. Article 45 of the organic law relating to finance laws (LOLF) authorizes the government to submit a special bill to collect existing taxes and temporarily finance public spending. This system would make it possible to extend the application of the 2024 budget.
« If this budget does not pass, last year’s budget will apply and it is rather less bad than that since there are fewer taxes that will weigh on the working classes and the middle classes », admitted Marine Le Pen on November 25.
The government will be able to submit amending finance bills
However, this solution would only be a temporary palliative, while a more lasting solution is developed. So to get out of the blockage, the government could table amending finance bills.
However, it remains to be seen what these bills may contain. As a reminder, the latest version of the finance bill for 2025 provided in particular:
- a rabbit tax for patients who do not show up for a medical appointment;
- additional funds dedicated to palliative care;
- better mental health care;
- reimbursement for tests and analyzes to detect chemical submission;
- or even capping the salaries of temporary paramedical workers in hospitals.
Good to know: with the latest version of the PLFSS, Health Insurance was expected to make 6.2 billion euros in savings.
