The National Assembly is preparing to vote on Monday evening a series of texts to better "
manage
" the state budget and that of social security in the long term and make them more "
transparent
" in a context of record deficit caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read also: Deficits: when the limits are crossed, there are no more limits
Examined at first reading, these bills enshrine the principle of “
multiannuality
” of budgets in order to control the development of public spending with greater hindsight.
Generally voted at the start of the legislature, the public finance programming law will have to indicate in "
billions of constant euros
" the expenditure expected in the following years.
Then each fall, the budget will mention a “
gap counter
” between the expenditures planned in the multi-year trajectory and those finally established for the coming year.
Parliamentarians will thus be able to challenge the government on the discrepancies observed.
These are "
not purely technical texts
" but "
eminently political
", at a time when "
we must give ourselves the means to restore our public finances as quickly as possible
", assured the budget rapporteur Laurent Saint-Martin (LREM), co-signatory of a proposal for an organic law with the LR chairman of the Finance Committee Éric Woerth.
An evolution of the French financial constitution
These texts also "
rationalize
" the calendar of budget discussions with a sequence in April merging the debates on the stability program and the direction of public finances. The practice of “
spring of evaluation
”, launched during this legislature to evaluate public policies, is also enshrined in the law. These bills will "
renovate
" the "
Financial Constitution
" of France, the organic law relating to finance laws (LOLF), promulgated in 2001.
"
It is not a revolution, but a significant evolution
", according to Éric Woerth (LR).
Same approach for Social Security, in bills brought by the rapporteur of the social security budget Thomas Mesnier (LREM).
Read also: The question of financing pensions remains unresolved
Budget Minister Olivier Dussopt praised “
renovated and precious tools
” for “
Parliament as well as for the government
”. The right has generally supported the texts. On the left, the socialist Valérie Rabault considers that it "
goes rather in the right direction
" but wanted more "
substance
" and a fusion of the budgetary debates on the receipts of the State and Social Security. Communist Jean-Paul Dufrègne denounced a “
quasi-automatic piloting
” of the budget, to “
further reduce public spending
” and limit “
Parliament to the role of commentator
”.
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