Like a Monday at the Palais Bourbon. One of those days that doesn’t attract a crowd and doesn’t really unleash passions. In the hierarchy of parliamentary pulsations, Mondays, for example, have everything to envy of Tuesdays and Wednesdays, days of Questions to the government, marked by their share of verbal jousts. This Monday, April 29 afternoon, a hope had nevertheless come to shake up prejudices… At the request of the Finance Committee, Bruno Le Maire was to speak on public finances during a debate on the public deficit, a subject that has become oh so abrasive since the publication by INSEE of the figures – much worse than expected.
The Minister of the Economy, alone or almost in the arena, facing opposition which, for a month, has pointed out his supposed incompetence at the helm of the French economy. We went to heat up some popcorn. And then this disappointment… A sparse Hall of the Four Columns, sections of the hemicycle deserted – around fifty deputies at best, and three hours of boring discussions. The fault of a debate without a vote, described as a “knife without a blade” by the rebellious president of the Finance Commission, Éric Coquerel? Or to the rating agencies Moody’s and Fitch, which, despite the deterioration of public accounts, have maintained the French rating?
In the absence of a draft amending finance bill, repeatedly demanded by the oppositions and, for a time, by Bruno Le Maire himself, it was a sterile debate which was held this Monday in the hemicycle. A sensation of seeing the Minister of the Economy boxing in the void. Debate during which the number 2 of the government did not refrain from reprimanding the opposition, urging them to “confront visions rather than postures”.
Bruno offensive: “I have never seen so many parliamentarians concerned about the public debt and the balance of our finances, worried about the risk of downgrading our rating by the rating agencies. And ultimately a little disappointed that the Fitch agencies and Moody’s have decided to maintain France’s rating,” he said at the desk. The unifying Mayor: “Come and participate in this restoration of our public finances, and let’s put aside once and for all political quarrels, which are not in the interest of France” he spoke from the podium. And the Minister of the Economy to “reach out his hand to all opposition parliamentarians who wish to restore public finances”. Thunderous applause from the very few fifteen Macronist deputies. “If I had to do it again, I would do exactly the same thing.” BLM has no regrets.
Debating point blank does not prevent threats from being made. And to take reality in the face for the government. Here is Jean-Philippe Tanguy, National Rally deputy, announcing that his group will table a motion of censure, if the executive does not present a corrective finance bill within 30 days. Here is Éric Coquerel, who makes the same demands of the executive and agitates this same motion of censure. We were waiting for it: the tempo is set.