Time is counted. Again, the Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, resorted, Wednesday, October 26 in the evening, for the third time in a week, to the constitutional weapon to pass the continuation of the draft budget 2023 of the Social Security.
This new 49.3 will allow the government to choose the version of the text on which it engages its responsibility, in addition to meeting deadlines. The bill must indeed pass in committee in the Senate on Wednesday, November 2, and the Assembly must also seize Thursday morning the continuation of the state budget, with the examination of the credits for justice then defense.
From the triggering of 49.3, the oppositions have twenty-four hours to file any motions of censure. The left-wing alliance of the New People’s Ecological and Social Union (Nupes), shared, as well as the deputies National Rally (RN) have not yet decided the question. If no motion is tabled within this time, the text will be considered adopted.
“Regrettable that the benches of the Nupes have emptied”
“I find it regrettable that the benches of the Nupes have emptied in anticipation while I quote measures desired, wanted, demanded, sometimes for a long time by the left of this Assembly”declared in the evening, before the Assembly, Elisabeth Borne, while the deputies on the left, but also those of the RN, had already left the Hemicycle.
The final text “takes into account your exchanges in commission”assured Elisabeth Borne to the remaining deputies, shortly after 11:30 p.m., affirming that “more than 150 amendments were accepted, from the majority as well as from the opposition”.
The head of government notably cited measures for the “better financing of home services”, “the increase in controls of nursing homes”, “strengthening the continuity of care”, “better care for children with multiple disabilities” or “100% coverage of hair prostheses for women with cancer”.
Invoking the “1,160 amendments remaining” and “the deadlines set by the Constitution”she therefore invoked Article 49 paragraph 3 of the Constitution on the entire text, which will allow its adoption without a vote at 11:41 p.m. Thursday evening if a motion of censure is not tabled by then.
Frustrated deputies
The parliamentary season is already well paced by the 49.3, which allow texts to be passed without a vote, unless a motion of censure is adopted. Deprived of an absolute majority, the Prime Minister has already triggered two last weekon the “revenue” parts of the State and Social Security budgets, thus validated at first reading.
The deputies are scalded, especially since most of the opposition amendments adopted during the session were not retained in the end. Wednesday, in the Hemicycle, Caroline Fiat (La France insoumise) asked if “a 49.3 will be drawn tonight and [si] nothing will be taken back” amendments adopted. “Don’t make us work uselessly!” »she pleaded with the majority and the Minister of Solidarity, Jean-Christophe Combe.
The debates reached their peak of tension at the end of the evening, around 11 p.m. After having asked several times, and without success, for extensions and additional sessions to examine the thousand amendments – a request also made by Les Républicains – the deputies of the Nupes decided to leave the Hemicycle.
“We do not want to participate in this masquerade”launched the communist deputy Pierre Dharréville. “The government authorized us to examine nine articles out of 53, it sorted through the amendments at its convenience. Social progress ? No. Social and health scam », he added. The environmental leader, Cyrielle Chatelain, has asked for “respect for national representation”.
The Social Security draft budget anticipates a sharp drop in the deficit, to 7.2 billion euros in 2023 (against 17.8 billion this year), based on a spectacular drop in the Covid-19 bill. It plans to improve prevention, with appointments at key ages of life, and to reform the training of general practitioners, by adding a fourth year with internships “in priority” in medical deserts. It also intends to step up the fight against ” abuse “ work stoppages prescribed during teleconsultations.