Senator LR Cédric Perrin is alarmed by the consequences on the armies

POLITICS – There are the risks of a motion of censure, which everyone thinks about, and its potential consequences, which we think about less. If Michel Barnier's government were overthrown – a hypothesis which is gaining ground since the National Rally confirmed that it would bring ” except miracle » its votes to censure in the event of recourse to 49.3 −, one of the possible risks is the cancellation of 3.3 billion additional euros provided for the armies in the military programming law. In any case, this is the concern expressed by Senator LR Cédric Perrin in Le Figaro this Monday, December 2.

Chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, he does not believe that “ the censorship of the current government could be something other than a misfortune”. Beyond the fact that he supports Michel Barnier's team, Cédric Perrin recalls that if the 2025 budget was not adopted, it would be the 2024 budget which would be renewed. Effectively canceling the increase in the defense budget.

“At a time when Russia is importing thousands of North Korean fighters onto European soil, where it is launching new missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, France would therefore revise its defense downwards by 6.5% compared to what the finance bill provides »deplores the senator, who asks the RN deputies “to stop proclaiming their patriotism and their attachment to the sovereignty of France”since they participate, according to him, in weakening our armies. “On the part of the NFP, and in particular its LFI component, such renunciation on defense is neither new nor surprising”he tackles in passing.

“Strategic misinterpretation”

Cédric Perrin denounces “a short-sighted vision” et “a strategic misinterpretation”. Apocalyptically, he warns: “If we are no longer able to ensure the security of our population, our territories and the defense of our interests, there will quickly be little left to defend”. A deliberately alarmist speech, which must be placed in the political context: the survival of the government is no longer assured, its supporters are doing their best to encourage the oppositions (and in particular the RN) not to vote for the motion of censorship.

Moreover, the Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu also came to the aid of his budget. On X, he says he regrets “the vote of censorship of the government”who would come “break this essential momentum for the protection of our fellow citizens, by preventing the proposed increase of 3.3 billion euros for our defense budget”. “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 throughout our territories”he adds, while asserting that in a context of generalized rearmament, “our armies and our industrialists need stability, visibility, and therefore confidence”.

“Pick the pockets”

Conversely, LFI deputy Bastien Lachaud, member of the Defense committee in the National Assembly, defends that government censorship is necessary to prevent the Prime Minister from “pick the pockets of the military”. “The government is proposing to tax the foreign residence allowance of military personnel, completely ignoring the realities of military living and working conditionsexplains the rebel. They refuse to make billionaires contribute, but do not hesitate to attack those who serve our country. » The elected official sent a letter on the subject to the Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu, to denounce “significant financial consequences” what would such a provision have on French soldiers, claiming to have been contacted “directly” by some of them. Same question, several points of view.

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