Almost a year after the start of the war in Ukraine, should the government debate France’s involvement in this conflict? For the time being, Matignon is procrastinating. Jean-Rémi Baudot’s Political Brief.
This is a letter that arrived on the office of the Prime Minister on January 27th. A letter co-signed by the communist deputies André Chassaigne and Fabien Roussel demanding “the organization of an urgent debate on the possibilities of a change of strategy in our support for Ukraine”. A letter that remained unanswered.
“We are studying the question, but it is not decided”. This is how Elisabeth Borne’s entourage responds. There are two options on the table: a closed-door format at Matignon, a simple liaison committee made up of group bosses in parliament, or a debate without a vote, which is called “debate 50.1” in reference to the article of the constitution.
A 50.1 is a prerogative of the head of government. A way for the executive to present its strategy and collect the positions of the opposition. Obviously, in this case, the debate is made publicly. The challenge is for everyone to show their cards.
The opposition demands to know how and why decisions are made. Whether France will deliver more weapons, and if so, what types. When opposite, within the majority, it is explained that this will make it possible to raise “the ambiguities of LFI and RN”.
“Remove the ambiguities of LFI and RN”
When Jean-Luc Mélenchon castigates NATO, when Marine Le Pen says that France should not deliver guns to kyiv, what interests are they defending? Faced with a belligerent and manipulative Putin, can we really invoke a peace conference without playing into the Kremlin’s game? When MEPs LFI and RN, with the exception of Jordan Bardella are absent during Zelensky’s speech in Brussels, should we see a lack of support for the Ukrainian people? These are some of the questions that members of the majority would also like to be able to ask. And that explains why this request for a debate is generally supported by the entire political spectrum.
The war in Ukraine remains a very divisive, complex and difficult subject to follow. For many observers, Emmanuel Macron’s position has itself evolved in recent months. “He changed”, said Volodymyr Zelensky to the Figaro, February 8 (article for subscribers).
And then, on the French side, there is the question of public opinion. How does it react over time? There is a fear in Macronie: that the French will grow weary and gradually refuse the impact that this conflict has on their lives in a complicated national context. Some Renaissance executives would therefore like to bring the question back up for debate to once again explain the issues for our security.
For the time being, therefore, Matignon is procrastinating. Between inflation and debates on pensions, is the government really in a hurry to debate a subject as difficult as Ukraine? The answer is probably in the question.