49.3, motion of censure.
49.3, motion of censure.
This legislative sequence has punctuated French political life for several weeks.
At the risk of creating an impression of déjà vu, and above all of confusion.
Since October 19, in the middle of a debate on the Budget, the government has engaged its responsibility six times.
Almost systematically, on seven occasions, several political groups have tried to bring him down.
Who exactly was behind these votes?
The Parisian takes stock.
October 19, first forced passage of the government and first political coup of the RN
In the absence of a majority in the National Assembly, the government had not long maintained the suspense of a passage in force of its text on the Budget.
This is done on October 19, when the Prime Minister announces from the podium "to engage the responsibility of her government".
Then begins the refrain that will punctuate the little political music of the weeks to come: the response of the opposition in the form of motions of censure.
A first is filed by Nupes, and supported by all of the left.
She collected 239 votes out of the 289 needed to bring down the government, which unsurprisingly emerged unscathed from this first attack.
But the surprise comes from the voters.
If all the Republican deputies abstained from voting for the text, according to the analysis of the ballot, the 89 deputies of the National Rally supported the text, as did Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, causing havoc on the left.
The RN also went there with its motion, adopted only by 90 votes.
88 deputies from the ranks of the party itself supported him, as well as a deputy from Nupes, Jean-Philippe Nilor, and Nicolas Dupont-Aignan.
October 20, second 49.3 in 24 hours, solo left
To endorse the "revenue" part of the Social Security financing bill, Elisabeth Borne triggers a new 49.3.
The second in 24 hours.
A third motion was then tabled by Nupes in reaction to "an abuse of power" by the Borne government, according to MP Marie-Charlotte Garin.
But like the two previous ones, it was rejected, collecting only 150 votes.
This time, the National Rally does not bring any voice to this election, just like the Republicans who always deprive of their support.
Only the left votes for: all the communists, the 22 ecologists out of 23, the 31 socialists and all the LFIs.
October 26, only France Insoumise and the Rassemblement step up to the plate
The LFI group is going it alone this time for the tabling of this motion, its socialist, communist and environmentalist allies arguing for a different strategic approach so as not to “trivialize” these attempts to overthrow the government.
Twenty deputies on the left do not vote for the motion, including the boss of the Communist Party Fabien Roussel, the socialist Valérie Rabault or the ecologist Delphine Batho, and it only collects 218 votes.
Despite the outcry, the RN is once again associated with this vote.
Far-right elected officials also voted their own motion "as free parliamentarians", but the latter was largely rejected by the Assembly, with only 90 supporters.
November 2, La France Insoumise released by the left, not by the RN
Jean-Luc Mélenchon's party is now the only one to table a motion of censure in response to the fourth 49.3.
Dissensions on the strategy to adopt are emerging.
This is evidenced by the analysis of the ballot: no socialist brought his voice to the LFI motion, "so as not to trivialize its use", argued their speaker Jérôme Guedj.
A total of 51 votes failed among the 151 Nupe deputies.
In total, she won only 188 votes, far from the absolute majority of 289 deputies.
The RN group, which has chosen not to file its own motion this time, brings its votes to the LFI motion.
November 21, France Insoumise definitively alone
After having voted three motions of censure from the left, the group of RN deputies had warned that it would not support the new LFI motion against the government and its Social Security budget.
“No trivialization.
Moreover, no motion of censure is tabled for this reason.
And then, it doesn't make too much sense, 49.3 had been used in the first reading, it's normal that there is one for the future, ”according to Marine Le Pen's entourage.
For this fifth 49.3, the motion therefore only garners 85 supporters, mainly those of the LFI, the Communists and three votes from the ecologists.
Read alsoEndless sessions, overloaded program… The Assembly wants to change the pace of work
November 26, a new 49.3 and a new LFI motion in preparation
Barely had the LFI motion been swept away, Elisabeth Borne announced a sixth appeal at 49.3.
The government is thus getting closer to its predictions: the use, up to ten times, of the constitutional weapon by Christmas.
History has also repeated itself on the side of France Insoumise, which has already warned that a motion was in preparation.
But the executive will have to change its habits.
If the Prime Minister can use article 49.3 without limit with regard to finance bills, as well as social security financing bills (PLFSS), he can only use 49.3 once per session parliamentarian apart from these projects.