And one, and two, and three 49.3!

On Wednesday evening, Elisabeth Borne again unsheathed this constitutional weapon, and committed to the Assembly the responsibility of her government on the whole of the 2023 Social Security draft budget, concluding a choppy and stormy session in the Assembly, in the voluntary absence of deputies Nupes and RN.

The final text “takes into account your exchanges in committee”, assured Elisabeth Borne to the remaining deputies in the hemicycle shortly after 11:30 p.m., affirming that “more than 150 amendments have been retained, from the majority as well as from the opposition”.

“The government authorized us to examine 9 articles out of 53, it sorted through the amendments at its convenience”, criticized the communist Pierre Dharréville.

"To this authoritarian path, the government will have added ''cynicism and disorder''", scolded Eric Coquerel (LFI).

Motion or no motion?

The head of government notably cited measures for "better financing of home services", "increased controls of nursing homes", "strengthening the permanence of care", "better care for children in situation polyhandicap”, or “100% coverage of hair prostheses for women with cancer”.

Invoking the "1,160 remaining amendments", and "the deadlines set by the Constitution", she invoked Article 49 paragraph 3 of the Constitution on the entire text, which will allow its adoption without a vote at first reading at 11:41 p.m. Thursday evening , according to the President of the Assembly, unless a motion of censure was tabled by then.

La Nupes divided on censorship

The left is divided on the issue.

The environmental deputies will not file any, confirmed to AFP on Wednesday the leader Cyrielle Chatelain, the other groups of the Nupes having not yet officially made their decision known, just like the RN.

The debates had reached a peak of tension around 11:00 p.m., the deputies of Nupes denouncing a “masquerade”.

After having asked several times, and without success, for extensions and additional sessions to examine the thousand amendments - a request also made by Les Républicains - the left-wing deputies finally left the hemicycle.


“We do not want to participate in this masquerade”, launched Pierre Dharréville, Cyrielle Chatelain asking for “respect for national representation”.

“To the brutality of 49.3, they added humiliation,” lamented socialist Jérôme Guedj.

“All the articles were voted on, we all took part in the votes.

We did the job sincerely with honesty.

In response, we have dishonesty ”, abounded the rebellious Ségolène Amiot.

RN deputies were also absent from the hemicycle during the Prime Minister's statement.

This is the third commitment of responsibility of the government on the budgetary texts, after those on the revenue parts of the state budget and that of the Social Security last week, adopted at first reading.

  • Elisabeth Borne

  • Social Security

  • Government

  • 49-3