Some 413 billion over seven years: despite criticism denouncing "announcement effects" and postponements of equipment deliveries, the government is hopeful of having its text adopted Wednesday in the Assembly to "prepare" and "modernize" the armies.
After two weeks of examination, without a hitch for the Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu, against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, the government hopes to turn the essay into a first reading in the afternoon.
An unlikely rejection of the text
Despite an Assembly tense by the issue of pensions, a rejection of the text seems unlikely, after the group The Republicans, whose members were divided before the examination of the text, announced Tuesday to move "towards a vote for".
Very critical of the initial copy, the president of the group Olivier Marleix welcomed the security, thanks to an amendment of the right, of 13.3 billion euros, which are based on extrabudgetary appropriations. However, he asked the Senate for progress on other points of the text.
🇫🇷 Not a euro should be missing from our armies; the @Republicains_An unanimously obtained from the Defence Committee, the security of exceptional revenues (13 billion €). #LPM2024-2030. Thank you to @JL_Thieriot for successfully introducing this amendment. - OM pic.twitter.com/HDt9gsZPY3
— 🇫🇷 Olivier Marleix (@oliviermarleix) May 11, 2023
The 413.3 billion for 2024-2030 of this draft military programming law (LPM) represents an increase of 40% compared to the previous law. In particular, they must make it possible to maintain and modernize nuclear deterrence. Thirty billion is to be used to cover inflation.
The appropriations are also intended to improve the salaries of troops, and to improve the conditions of reservists, to double the size of the operational reserve (80,000 volunteers targeted for 2030). The LPM also provides envelopes to "modernize" the military apparatus: 10 billion for innovation, 6 billion for "space", 4 billion for "cyber", 5 billion for drones...
Despite all these announcements, the government's copy is not unanimous.
Criticism of the budget
Firstly because of postponements of equipment delivery. The armies will thus receive over the period fewer tanks, Rafale or frigates for example than what was provided for in the previous LPM. Sébastien Lecornu says "favor coherence over the mass": receive less equipment, but ensure that it is operational and that the military is trained.
But the oppositions' main grievance is the timing of the efforts. To reach 69 billion annual budget in 2030, the executive plans to progress by "steps": + 3.1 billion in 2024, then 3 billion additional per year from 2025 to 2027, and 4.3 billion more per year from 2028, after the end of Macron's five-year term.
" READ ALSO Military programming law: what the army thinks, between "circumspection" and optimism
"We announce 413 billion to recover the glory, and it is the successors who will pay," criticizes Laurent Jacobelli (RN), for whom "all options are on the table for the vote". But abstention or even the vote seem to hold the rope on the side of the National Rally.
"Budgetary issues have become a gimmick of repetition, perhaps to justify a vote that some would not be able to justify otherwise," squeaked in the hemicycle Sébastien Lecornu.
Abstention or against the left
Divided on some major issues (NATO, nuclear deterrence), the left should also be divided in its votes. The socialist deputies at the forefront of the text denounced in a forum in Le Monde the budgetary trajectory and the lack of "coherence" of the programming.
Their group will abstain, as will environmentalists opposed to the long-term pursuit of deterrence and the construction of a new aircraft carrier. Communists historically opposed to nuclear deterrence are expected to vote against Wednesday, as are rebels.
🎬 For an independent France!
Despite a budget of 413 billion € the military programming law does not set clear objectives. Space, seabed, #OTAN, deterrence of tomorrow: discover our alternative vision in this new episode of our series on #LPM. pic.twitter.com/CbSTn2Tvvu
— Aurélien Saintoul (@A_Saintoul) June 1, 2023
The bill also establishes strict control of military and civilian personnel who have performed sensitive functions and wish to work for a foreign state or company. It also extends the state's powers of requisitions from companies involved in defense.
Finally, it strengthens the powers of the National Agency for the Security of Information Systems (ANSSI) in the fight against cyberattacks, despite serious concerns on the left for the protection of data and public freedoms.