Military programming law: deputies vote on the budget of 413 billion euros

Some 413 billion over seven years: despite criticism denouncing “announcement effects” and postponements of equipment deliveries, the government is hopeful of having the embly adopt Wednesday its text to “prepare” and “modernize” the armies.

After two weeks of examination, without a hitch for the Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu, against a backdrop of war in Ukraine, the government hopes to transform the essay into first reading in the afternoon.

A rejection of the unlikely text

Despite a embly strained by the question of pensionsa rejection of the text seems unlikely, after the group Les Républicains, whose members were divided before the examination of the text, announced on Tuesday that he was heading “towards a vote for”.

Very critical of the initial copy, the president of the group Olivier Marleix welcomed the securing, thanks to an amendment from the right, of 13.3 billion euros, which are based on extrabudgetary credits. However, he asked for progress in the Senate on other points of the text.

The 413.3 billion for 2024-2030 of this military programming bill (LPM) represents an increase of 40% compared to the previous law. In particular, they must make it possible to sustain and modernize nuclear deterrence. Thirty billion must be used to cover inflation.

Credits should also improve the treatment of troops, and to improve the conditions of reservists, to double the workforce 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.

Budget reviews

Firstly due to material delivery postponements. The armies will thus receive over the period fewer tanks, Rafale or frigates for example than what was planned in the previous LPM. Sébastien Lecornu says “favor consistency over m”: receive less equipment, but ensure that it is operational and that the soldiers are trained in it.

But the main grievance of the opposition concerns the timing of the efforts. To reach an annual budget of 69 billion in 2030, the executive plans to progress by “steps”: + 3.1 billion in 2024, then an additional 3 billion per year from 2025 to 2027, and 4.3 billion more per year. from 2028, i.e. after the end of the Macron five-year term.

“We are announcing 413 billion to recover the glory, and it is the successors who will pay”, criticizes Laurent Jacobelli (RN), for whom “all the options are on the table for the vote”. But the abstention or even the vote seem to hold the rope on the side of the National Rally.

“Budgetary issues have become a rehearsal gimmick, perhaps to justify a vote that some would not be able to justify otherwise”, squeaked in the hemicycle Sébastien Lecornu.

Abstention or against on the left

Divided on certain major subjects (NATO, nuclear deterrence), the left should also be divided in its votes. The Socialist deputies at the forefront of the text denounced in a platform in the world the budgetary trajectory and the lack of “coherence” of programming.

Their group will abstain, as will environmentalists opposed to the long-term pursuit of deterrence and to the construction of a new aircraft carrier. Communists historically opposed to nuclear deterrence are expected to vote against Wednesday, as are draft dodgers.

The bill also establishes strict control of soldiers and civilians who have performed sensitive functions and wish to work for a state or a foreign company. It also extends the powers of requisitioning of the State with companies involved in the defense.

Finally, it strengthens the powers of the National Agency for Information Systems Security (Anssi) in the fight against cyberattacksdespite strong concerns on the left for the protection of data and public freedoms.