In order to protest against the lack of an update of the Military Programming Law, the Senate dominated by the right-wing opposition refused on Wednesday to renew its confidence in the law. This vote, which goes against that of the National Assembly the day before, is of no consequence for the government. However, it constitutes a disavowal of the declaration of Prime Minister Jean Castex who collected 236 votes against (LR, PS, CRCE with a communist majority, environmentalists) and 46 votes in favor.
Only the RDPI groups with a majority En Marche and RDSE with a radical majority voted in favor. The centrists overwhelmingly abstained and the Indépendants group was divided between votes for and abstentions.
No update in sight
With a global envelope of 295 billion euros over seven years, the 2019-2025 Military Programming Law provides for a clear increase in the defense budget after years of deflation. It was to be updated in the course of 2021 in order to “verify the good match between the objectives set, the achievements and the resources allocated”.
“I have decided, and I accept it, not to submit to Parliament at this precise moment a text to update the Military Programming Law”, Prime Minister Jean Castex declared to the senators, adding that “this update will of course have to intervene as soon as the economic and financial horizon is clarified ”.
Risks of additional costs of 8.6 billion euros
“Of course, yes, the circumstances have changed, but in an unfavorable sense (…) This is precisely why a law was needed! “, Declared for his part the president of the Senate Defense Committee Christian Cambon (LR), recalling that the Senate had supported” by an immense majority “the Military Programming Law in 2018.
The committee quantified the risk of additional costs not provided for by the Military Planning Law at “8.6 billion euros”. “That’s eight times more than advertised! », Underlined Christian Cambon, who abstained during the vote. “What we denounce is not these adjustments (…) it is the lack of transparency”, added Cédric Perrin (LR). “If there are additional expenses, it is necessary to discuss in a lucid manner and in full transparency the savings or sacrifices to be made elsewhere”.