Is censorship a brake on military spending in the Channel and Naval Group programs?

See my news
Follow La Presse de la Manche

We had already asked questions, in September 2024, during the introduction of the Barnier government and its announced budget cuts. As the former European commissioner's team prepares to pack its bags, there is still concern. What about the credits allocated to military spending?

A few hours before a motion of censure, the Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu stepped up to the plate to defend his backyard… from which he may soon be ejected.

In the event of a refusal to accept the Barnier government, the Norman elected official is worried about the brakes that this could cause while France has been pursuing its rearmament for several yearssupported by a recent 2024-2030 military programming law more than doubled (413 billion euros).

The vote to censure the government, and therefore the absence of a budget for the year 2025, would break this essential momentum for the protection of our fellow citizens, by preventing the proposed increase of 3.3 billion euros for the our defense budget (Editor's note: 50.5 billion euros in total).

“It would have very concrete consequences for our armies, but also more broadly for our French defense manufacturers: more than 200,000 jobs in more than 4,000 companies everywhere in our territories,” adds the minister, with emphasis.

In office since 2022, the Minister of the Armed Forces is also waving a symbolic totem to alert MPs and public opinion. “In the event of censorship, it will be the impossibility of launching the order for our future aircraft carrier“, he warns.

“The accumulated delay will not potentially make it possible to join when the Charles de Gaulle leaves active service. What's more, this project alone represents 10 billion euros of investments which would directly irrigate complete industrial sectors throughout France.”

41.9 million euros budget for defense in 2025 in the Channel

In his post, Sébastien Lecornu does not openly mention the other major military project of the century: the four nuclear ballistic missile submarines which must be built by the Naval Group shipyard in Cherbourg. However, should we be worried about this program which will last until 2050 (at least) in Cotentin?

One thing is certain, it seems complicated to go back. Officially launched in 2021, this project has already swallowed up several billion euros (Editor's note: the overall cost is defense secret), particularly in the context of the preliminary project and studies.

However, with this planned period of inaction, credits expected for 2025 could fall by the wayside. And slow down the program? The question may arise.

Same refrain on the side investments in the territory by the Ministry of the Armed Forces. Certainly by pure coincidence, the latter communicated, Monday December 2, 2024, on its 2025 budget project in each department.

In the Channel ,41.9 million euros were allocated in particular

to finance the creation/adaptation of training facilities and work to safeguard the sea wall. Will they be maintained in the event of the ousting of the current government? “As the world rearms and threats pile up,our armies and our industrialists need stability

^{visibility, and therefore trust. The opposite would happen in the event of the adoption of a motion of censure against the French budget,” warns Sébastien Lecornu in conclusion.}