It is an amendment to 120 million euros! Last week, the National Assembly examined the “expenditure” part of the text on purchasing power: the 4% increase in social benefits was then adopted, including the Active Solidarity Income (RSA), paid by the departments that requested compensation. This was the whole purpose of this amendment discussed on the weekend of July 23 and 24, 2022: to compensate for the additional cost for the departments by paying them an allocation of 120 million euros.
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Bruno Le Maire, Minister of the Economy was against, the rapporteur of the bill too… except that the amendment was adopted, thanks to the votes of the left, the Republicans, the National Rally… and the 13 Horizons deputies present at the time of the vote. This is the first time that Emmanuel Macron’s allies have voted against the government.
To explain this “hiccup”, there are several levels of reading, as often in politics. First, nothing surprising on the part of Horizons to vote for an amendment in favor of communities. From the creation of his party, Edouard Philippe wanted to position it as the closest formation, the most representative of local elected officials, in opposition to a supposed Parisian centralism of En Marche, the presidential party.
The second level of reading is the electoral calendar. Next year, the Senate is half renewed, Horizons hopes to settle there as in the National Assembly with a pivotal group that makes and breaks majorities. And who do we find among the great voters? The very people who, next year, are called upon to vote for the senatorial elections: namely the departmental advisers, the first concerned by this amendment of 120 million euros on the RSA.
Finally, at a more distant date, there is also the presidential election of 2027. And the fact that Edouard Philippe is positioning himself to succeed Emmanuel Macron is no secret. So you might as well start playing your own music now. Especially since the minister outvoted, during the debates, it is Bruno Le Maire presented as a possible rival on the road to the Elysée… who has personally set out in recent months to hinder Edouard Philippe in his partisan construction .
Some candidates for the legislative elections last June have also said that they received a phone call from the Minister of the Economy to dissuade them from competing under the colors of Horizons. However, we know: revenge is a dish best served cold… This vote by Horizons, on an amendment which, a priori, will not change the face of France, is finally a mood swing addressed to the Elysée, which seemed to have eyes only for Les Républicains at the moment. However, the whole bet of Edouard Philippe is that LR will break up and that he will rebuild the right around him. You know the famous adage: “My God, keep me from my friends. As for my enemies, I take care of them!“…