The right-wing majority Senate on Thursday rejected the state's 2023 draft budget, lamenting that most of its amendments were "
swept away
" by the government, and paving the way for its next final passage, after a final 49.3 to the Assembly.
The upper house adopted by 260 votes against 54 a preliminary motion, refusing to proceed to a new reading of the text and thus putting "
an end to this day of dupes
", in the words of the president of the PS group Patrick Kanner.
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Most of the groups have denounced the executive's recourse to 49.3, a constitutional weapon which should be used Thursday afternoon before the Assembly for the tenth time this fall on a budget text, with a view to probable final adoption, without vote, by the end of the week.
It is "
a denial of democracy
" for the LR Stéphane Sautarel, "
a dangerous inter-self
" for the ecologist Daniel Breuiller or even "
a lack of responsibility
", for the socialist Éric Jeansannetas.
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The Minister of Public Accounts Gabriel Attal defended himself, claiming to have "
established a real dialogue
" during the debate on the budget, while justifying the use of constitutional weapons.
“
Yes, we have chosen to take our responsibilities with the use of 49.3 since we cannot imagine the 6th world power facing 2023 with empty pockets without a budget
,” he said.
“
We have chosen to protect purchasing power, to support the French and our businesses, to preserve economic activity and growth as much as possible
,” explained the minister.
Arguments that did not convince the LR chairman of the Finance Committee, Jean-François Husson: "
This budget is that of all records both in terms of deficit and level of new loans
", he said. lamented.
The Minister replied that the additional expenditure would be “
financed by the increase in revenue linked to the taxation of superprofits that we have decided at European level
”.
“
Yes, I dare to use the term superprofit taxation
,” he replied to the hubbub aroused in the hemicycle by his remarks.
"
This summer we did not necessarily speak in these terms, but spending time in the Senate, ultimately, it forges a man, it makes you evolve
," he explained.
The abolition of the CVAE rejected by the senators
The Senate had revised the finance bill (PLF) at first reading with the adoption of numerous amendments.
The upper house had notably rejected one of the government's flagship measures for this second five-year term, the abolition of the CVAE, a local business tax.
The executive thus intends to make France more attractive.
The course set by the government is to contain the public deficit at 5% of GDP, despite measures such as the "
tariff shield
" to limit increases in regulated gas and electricity prices to 15%, an increase in remuneration teachers or the creation of more than 10,000 civil servant posts, including 3,000 police and gendarmes.