Budget: MPs reject at first reading the 2024 end of management bill

New disappointment in the government’s long budgetary autumn: the deputies rejected at first reading on Tuesday the bill for the end of 2024 management, suggesting a possible 49.3 for its final adoption in the National Assembly.

This text, which sets the budgetary adjustments to be made at the end of the year, expects a public deficit reaching 6.1% of gross domestic product (GDP), much more than the 4.4% provided for in the finance bill. for 2024.

A “significant gap” of around 50 billion euros compared to initial forecasts

The Minister of the Budget, Laurent Saint-Martin, recognized in his introductory remarks a “significant gap” of around 50 billion euros compared to initial forecasts, including 40 billion linked to revenues lower than expectations. Also in question is the “dynamics of public spending”, and in particular drug spending, leading to an upward revision of the national health insurance spending target of 0.8 billion euros for 2024, he said. he said.

The deputies from all benches pointed out, in unison with the general budget rapporteur Charles de Courson (Liot), a “major slippage in public finances”, and said they hoped for clarification thanks to the work of the finance committee, which will investigate the subject from December.

The text, which will now be sent to the Senate, was unsurprisingly opposed by the left, who criticized various cancellations of credits. The government also had to endure attacks from the main coalition group, Ensemble pour la République, chaired by Gabriel Attal, who had tabled several amendments to encourage the government to further reduce the 2024 deficit.

An LR MP points to the “disastrous poisoned gift left by our predecessors”

“It was possible (…) to be below the 6% deficit mark. To do this, the government should have presented an amending finance law in October, tax measures could have been taken now and credits could have been canceled earlier and more significantly. The government is therefore accountable for this deficit,” said Macronist MP Charles Sitzenstuhl. His colleague LR Corentin Le Fur pointed out the “cataclysmic situation” inherited by Michel Barnier, “a disastrous poisoned gift left by our predecessors”.

Tuesday, the Senate dominated by LR accused previous governments of “irresponsibility” and “wait and see” in the face of budgetary drift, in a report described as “an outrageous attack” by the Macronist camp, which cries “lies” .