Friday, March 29

The Macron Government overcomes the motions of censure after approving the budgets by decree

The French Prime Minister, Élisabeth Borne, has overcome with more difficulty than expected the two motions of censure presented by the left-wing coalition NUPES (New Popular Ecological and Social Union) –led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon– and by the extreme group right-wing led by Marine Le Pen after the criticism unleashed by the approval by decree of the budgets last week.

Last week, the French Executive resorted on two occasions to the Article 49.3 of the Constitution, which allows him to approve the accounts by decree and avoid voting in Parliament, where Macron’s formation does not have a majority. On Wednesday he approved the budgets in this way and on Thursday, the social security financing law. Article 49.3 allows the Executive to declare budgets approved unless a motion of censure is presented within 24 hours of applying the clause.

The motions needed the support of the absolute majority of Parliament, that is, 289 of the 577 deputies. NUPES (150 seats) has not supported the National Assembly motion (89), but the surprise has come with Le Pen’s announcement of support for the progressive coalition motion. “And because only the national interest guides these words and actions, the group that I have the honor of chairing will also vote on the motion of censure presented in acceptable terms on the other side of the chamber,” said the far-right leader. The NUPES motion has obtained 239 votes of the 289 necessary. The National Association motion has only obtained 90 votes.

“I am glad that the National Association is forced to recognize the leadership of NUPES at this institutional moment in which Parliament stands up against the abuse of power of 49.3. The Republicans should do the same”, said the deputy of France Insumisa Raquel Garrido.

The prime minister has justified in the debate the decision to approve the budgets by decree. “This is a difficult decision that no government takes lightly,” said Élisabeth Borne. “It is not an easy decision, but in such troubled times, this decision was necessary because I want to remind you that the context is serious.” “Debate, vote and face the consequences, that is the basis” of the system, she added.

The conservative party Los Republicanos (62) has not supported either of them. initiatives. A third motion also presented by NUPES in relation to the social security financing law will be voted on later, but it does not have options to go forward either.

“They have not betrayed their responsibilities, worse still, they have abandoned them,” said the environmentalist deputy Cyrielle Chatelain, who presented the NUPES motion. “The 49.3 is the weapon of the weak,” said the deputy, who has criticized the Republicans as a “puppet opposition.”

53 of the 62 deputies that make up the group of Republicans published this weekend a column explaining their reasons for the rejection and refusing to join “the theater of those who speculate on the collapse of the country.” “We have been experiencing an economic and energy crisis for several months. Inflation is reactivating the social crisis and adding a political and institutional crisis would be irresponsible”, the deputies pointed out. “If one day we have to vote on a motion of censure, it will be the one that we present and we do not close the door to doing so,” they added.

Marine Le Pen, who has presented the other motion, has also been harsh against the Government. “Macron at the same time president, prime minister and minister of everything. 49.3 is not a way to run the country peacefully”, she pointed out. “With two 49.3 in two days, this presidential term has barely begun and it already seems like the end of a reign,” she added.

What happened reflects the fragmentation of Parliament, where several Macron allies have also voted against his measures. In recent weeks, the MoDem centrists and the Horizons party, founded by Macron’s former prime minister and former member of the conservative UMP Édouard Philippe, have voted against several government budget measures. That lack of support has been what has prompted the Executive to activate 49.3.

Added to the political situation is the economic price crisis and the social crisis that President Macron is facing. Last week, the country was hit by the lack of fuel supply due to strikes in several refineries in the country, although the situation is stabilizing. Several strikes and demonstrations were also called in key sectors.





www.eldiario.es