At the initiative of Emmanuel Macron, Parliament is examining the French aid strategy for Ukraine.

Before the senators, French deputies will debate the subject on Tuesday March 12.

  • What is the purpose of the vote?

After a debate, the deputies will vote on the Prime Minister's speech on the aid strategy for Ukraine and not on the content of the Franco-Ukrainian bilateral agreement signed in Paris on February 16 or on the financial commitment of provide “up to 3 billion euros in additional support” to war-torn Ukraine.

This is a non-binding vote permitted by article 50-1 of the Constitution.

It stipulates that "before one or other of the assemblies, the Government can (...) make, on a specific subject, a declaration which gives rise to debate and can, if it decides, be the subject of a vote without incurring responsibility".

The bilateral security agreement concluded with Ukraine on February 16 provides for "the provision of comprehensive assistance to Ukraine" for "the restoration of its territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders" for ten years, "deterrence active and the measures to be taken in the face of any new aggression" from Russia, as well as "support" for Kiev's accession to the European Union and for "interoperability with NATO".

Before his visit to Paris, Volodymyr Zelensky visited Germany where he signed a similar security agreement with Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

In January, the United Kingdom and Ukraine also concluded a ten-year security agreement

  • What are the positions of the parliamentary groups?

Following Emmanuel Macron's declarations made in Prague on March 5 affirming that France should place "no limits" on its support for Ukraine, the French president wants clarification of the positions of the political forces represented in the National Assembly .

Several opposition leaders have denounced the exploitation of the Ukrainian question for electoral purposes as the campaign for the European elections which will take place from June 6 to 9, 2024 begins.

On the side of the Élysée we undoubtedly hope to highlight the Russophilia of some of its opponents.

On the eve of the vote the positions of the parliamentary groups are not entirely known. 

Vote in the National Assembly on support for Ukraine: "Every deputy must consciously say what he thinks (...) [If we vote against] it is because we want to abandon the Ukraine and that we do not believe in Europe, that we submit to Putin", Sylvain Maillard pic.twitter.com/5iOmlNq9H2

— TF1Info (@TF1Info) March 11, 2024

The 

National Rally

announced that its parliamentarians would abstain.

To justify this decision, the head of the RN list for the Europeans Jordan Bardella explained that the position defended by Emmanuel Macron included "red lines", in particular Ukraine's accession to the European Union and NATO.

He also denounced the “principle of active deterrence” mentioned in the Franco-Ukrainian security agreement.

"We must be very careful. Yes to support for Ukraine but no to a war with Russia" affirms the president of the RN.

The Republicans

have not decided on a position either and denounce a political maneuver.

The ridiculous speech of the Macronists in #Lille confirmed what I denounced Thursday at the Elysée.



Exploiting the conflict in Ukraine for the French #European elections is shameful, unworthy and pitiful!

— Eric Ciotti (@ECiotti) March 10, 2024

The

Renaissance, Horizons, MoDem, Socialist Party and Europe Écologie-Les Verts

groups should come out in favor of support and increased aid to Ukraine.

Raphaël Glucksmann, head of the PS list for the Europeans, called on “all those who are attached to democracy and the security of Europe to vote for this agreement”.

On the

LFI side,

Manuel Bompard said he was opposed to an agreement "which contains within it the prospect of Ukraine's accession to NATO" and the EU.

As for the national secretary of the

PCF

, Fabien Roussel, he also affirmed that his group would vote against "if the Prime Minister's speech takes up the elements found in the treaty" by accusing the presidential camp of becoming "the party of the war".

After the Assembly, a similar debate will be held in the Senate on Wednesday March 13.

With AFP

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