The joint joint fee, the one doable resolution to save lots of France’s finances? | EUROtoday

CEvery fall, the finances debate comes again like a chestnut tree. The authorities submits its finance invoice (PLF), the National Assembly dissects it, the Senate modifies it and the textual content returns in a recreation of parliamentary ping-pong.

This yr, the train appears much more perilous. Since the legislative elections of 2024, France is experiencing an unprecedented interval: Sébastien Lecornu doesn’t have an absolute majority and refuses to manipulate by constraint. The Prime Minister repeated it: he won’t use article 49.3 to go the finances. A selection that makes the duty way more tough.

In this context, just one path nonetheless appears practicable: a conclusive joint fee. In different phrases: a budgetary compromise between the Assembly and the Senate. Although it’s doable on paper, it’s formidable in actuality.

Just a little-known constitutional software

Provided for by article 45 of the Constitution, the joint committee (CMP) brings collectively seven deputies and 7 senators answerable for discovering a compromise when the 2 chambers can’t agree on a textual content.

It comes on the finish of the parliamentary shuttle, after one or two readings. If it reaches an settlement, this widespread textual content is then submitted to the 2 assemblies, which should undertake it with out modification. In the case of the finance invoice, it is a essential step: if the CMP succeeds, the finances is voted on with out recourse to 49.3; if it fails, every part will get difficult.ALSO READ “Lecornu is smart”: from the Zucman tax to the ISF, the Assembly’s budgetary “crazy day”

By renouncing article 49.3, Sébastien Lecornu wished to interrupt with the observe of his predecessors who had made this asset a budgetary reflex. Élisabeth Borne had used it 23 occasions throughout her time at Matignon between 2022 and 2024. “In a divided assembly, a government, even relying on the most relative majority, cannot, in the long term, act without taking into account opposition,” declared the Prime Minister in his basic coverage speech.

But with out an absolute majority, this selection pushes the federal government right into a type of parliamentary tightrope strolling. The Renaissance group and its allies, MoDem and Horizons, have solely 162 deputies, removed from the required majority of 289 seats. Each vote subsequently turns right into a negotiation. Hence the concept of ​​a CMP: a world settlement with the Senate, dominated by the fitting, which might assure the adoption of the textual content with out blockage.

Three circumstances

But for this CMP to be conclusive, three circumstances have to be met. First of all, the positions of the National Assembly and the Senate shouldn’t be too far aside. If the disagreement considerations the trajectory of the deficit, taxation or native spending, the negotiation dangers getting slowed down.

Then, the fourteen members of the CMP will need to have enough political latitude to concede delicate factors. A compromise can’t be constructed if every camp sticks to its preliminary textual content. Finally, even after an settlement, the 2 chambers should chorus from amending the textual content once more. Without this, the shuttle resumes, and the CMP fails.

In the case of discussions on the PLF, the difficulty goes past the finances itself. The renunciation of article 49.3 locations parliamentarians face their tasks. Either they attain a compromise or they reveal their incapacity to manipulate with out constraint. A conclusive CMP would then seem as an institutional success as a lot as a political sign: that of a authorities and not using a majority able to unifying on a textual content as elementary because the finances.

Conversely, if the settlement fails, the parliamentary shuttle would resume its journey. However, within the case of the finances, time is restricted: the Constitution imposes deadlines of 70 days for the PLF and 50 days for the PLFSS.

If the disagreement persists, the federal government may give the final phrase to the National Assembly within the title of article 45 of the Constitution. A dangerous resolution as a result of it marks the break between the 2 rooms. Finally, if on the finish of the constitutional interval, no finance regulation is promulgated, the federal government can then implement the finances by ordinance, counting on the appropriations voted the earlier yr (within the title of article 47.3 of the Constitution). A case by no means utilized underneath the V^e Republic, which might assure the continuity of the State.