In the absence of an absolute majority for the macronists at the Palais Bourbon, the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire called for "intense and calm discussion this week" in order to avoid a "pitched battle".

In a hemicycle not full, Mr. Le Maire turned without naming them to the right-wing deputies LR, suggesting that they "stay faithful to their convictions, rather than uniting with Nupes or the National Rally".

He criticized the oppositions for adopting a total in committee of "more than 7 billion euros in additional expenditure".

With more than 3,000 amendments for the session on the first part of the budget dedicated to revenue, his colleague from Public Accounts, Gabriel Attal, pointed to a risk of "blocking" and "embolism": "We can only accept the debate bogged down," he warned.

In a sometimes agitated atmosphere, the deputies rejected from the outset two motions of rejection tabled by LFI.

The LR elected officials opposed it, to "go to the end of the debates", according to Véronique Louwagie.

On the far right, Marine Le Pen called for a "constructive opposition", while immediately criticizing the government for "suffering from inflation", in an "end of reign atmosphere".

Before tackling the finance bill itself, the National Assembly looks at the 2023-2027 budget trajectory.

This programming text was rejected last week in committee to the chagrin of the government, which fears consequences for the payments of European funds to France.

The deputies will begin at best on Tuesday to tackle the amendments to the PLF, which notably includes a "tariff shield" of 45 billion euros in the face of the explosion in energy prices.

"We will advise"

Too expensive for the right, "austerity" for the left, "submitted" to Brussels according to the RN: the oppositions have ruled out supporting this 2023 budget. And the "Bercy dialogues", organized in September by the government with deputies from all sides, nothing has changed.

The Minister of Economy Bruno Le Maire (in the center) in front of the National Assembly in Paris on October 10, 2022 Christophe ARCHAMBAULT AFP

Recourse to Article 49.3 of the Constitution therefore seems inevitable.

In the hands of the executive, this tool makes it possible to pass a text without a vote, unless a motion of censure is adopted.

The chairman of the Finance Committee, the rebellious Eric Coquerel, asked "solemnly the government not to implement 49.3" because "the debate must take place".

He denounces "the greatest austerity of the Fifth Republic" - the left-wing coalition Nupes calls for a "march against high prices" next Sunday in Paris.

“We are in a position of dialogue”, assured Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, Monday, during an interview on RTL on the sidelines of a trip to Algeria.

But "if there should be blockages (...), we will advise" as to a 49.3, she added.

The course set is to contain the public deficit to 5% of GDP, despite the "tariff shield", an increase in teachers or the creation of more than 10,000 civil servant posts, including 3,000 police and gendarmes.

"Crisis profiteers"

The idea of ​​taxing "crisis profiteers" will make a comeback in the hemicycle.

The left is proposing a windfall tax on the biggest corporations.

The RN is also pushing for the taxation of "superprofits", but the majority rejects the idea of ​​a new tax targeting all sectors of economic activity and refers to the European agreement aimed at involving energy companies.

The government will bring two amendments to transcribe it in France, with the capping of income from electricity production and "the creation of a temporary solidarity contribution from companies in the oil, coal, refining and gas sectors" .

Regarding private jets, which are increasingly decried, the executive intends to support a majority amendment aimed at aligning the advantageous taxation of kerosene for these planes with that of other fuels.

And faced with the discontent of communities, alarmed by inflation, Elisabeth Borne promised on Friday an increase in their overall operating grant (DGF), to 320 million euros instead of the 210 million initially announced.

© 2022 AFP