The deputies did not adopt the first part of the finance bill, after the left largely reworked it during the debates.
MEPs will not even be able to debate the spending part of the budget. A first in the entire history of the Fifth Republic. This Tuesday afternoon, without much surprise, a large majority of them voted against (192 for, 362 against) the first part of the finance bill, dedicated to revenue. A rejection which has the consequence of sending the text in its entirety directly to the Senate, which will begin its examination within two weeks. A result which is not a surprise given the composition of the National Assembly, divided into three very distinct blocks.
During the debates at the Palais Bourbon, the government bill was significantly revised by the left, over-mobilized during the votes, unlike the Macronists and the right. Many new taxes, such as those on superprofits, superdividends, share buybacks, multinationals, the assets of billionaires and even “large digital companies”, had been adopted. Furthermore, certain key measures from the initial text had been deleted, including the increase in the electricity tax, the increase in the automobile penalty or the surcharge on large businesses.
The version of the text resulting from our debates is completely distorted and in no way corresponds to the proposal made by Michel Barnier
Right Republican MP Véronique Louwagie shortly before the vote
A budget « NFP-compatible », in the words of the LFI president of the finance committee, Éric Coquerel, who also pushed the Macronists, The Republicans and the National Rally to vote against, while the forces of the New Popular Front (NFP) all voted favorably. « The version of the text resulting from our debates is completely distorted and in no way corresponds to the proposal made by Michel Barnier »also denounced, shortly before the vote, the Republican Right MP Véronique Louwagie. « Which sector of activity still escapes this tax hell? ? »for her part, Horizons MP Félicie Gérard was moved, while David Amiel regretted « a huge parliamentary mess ». A real « museum of tax horrors »for his part protested Éric Ciotti (Union of Rights for the Republic).
The parliamentary shuttle continues
After examining the text, during the night of last Friday to Saturday, the left was largely pleased to have succeeded in « reshuffle the budget »says the Insoumis Éric Coquerel. « We found tens of billions of new revenues. It's a satisfaction : this means that we can both meet the needs of the French and reduce the deficit »rejoiced the president of the finance committee, while the Minister of the Budget, Laurent Saint-Martin, denounced « a tax bludgeoning », regretting a tax increase of 35 billion euros compared to the initial bill.
From now on, the text will therefore continue its journey in the Senate. And, since it has not been adopted, it will likely be largely the government version that will be sent there. The parliamentarians of the Upper House will in turn have plenty of time to amend it. Everything will then be played out in a joint committee, where seven senators and seven deputies will meet to try to find an agreement on the entire text. An instance where the “common base” has, in most cases, the majority. And will therefore be able, if they agree, to find a path for the text, before it returns to the Senate, then to the National Assembly for final adoption. This is when the Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, without an absolute majority at the Palais Bourbon, should activate article 49.3 to pass in force. Putting himself at the mercy of a motion of censure which could bring down his government.
