Some 413 billion over seven years. Despite criticism denouncing “announcement effects” and postponements of equipment deliveries, the deputies largely adopted at first reading, Wednesday, June 7, the text to “prepare” and “modernize” the armies.

After two weeks of examination, without a hitch for the Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, the text was adopted in the National Assembly by 408 votes against 87. It is now expected in the Senate.

Despite an Assembly tense over the question of pensions, a rejection of the text seemed unlikely, after the group Les Républicains (LR), whose members were divided before the examination of the text, announced on Tuesday that it was heading “towards a vote for “.

Very critical of the first version of the text, the president of the LR group, Olivier Marleix, welcomed the securing, thanks to an amendment from the right, of 13.3 billion euros, which are based on extrabudgetary credits. However, he asked for progress in the Senate on other points of the text.

Modernizing nuclear deterrence

The 413.3 billion for 2024-2030 of this military programming bill (LPM) represents an increase of 40% compared to the previous law. In particular, they must make it possible to sustain and modernize nuclear deterrence. Thirty billion must be used to cover inflation.

The credits must also improve the treatment of troops, and make it possible to improve the conditions of reservists, to double the number of the operational reserve (80,000 volunteers targeted for 2030).

The LPM also provides envelopes to “modernize” the military apparatus: 10 billion for innovation, 6 billion for “space”, 4 billion for “cyber”, 5 billion for drones…

Despite all these announcements, the government’s copy is not unanimous. Firstly due to material delivery postponements. The armies will thus receive over the period fewer tanks, Rafale or frigates for example than what was planned in the previous LPM.

Sébastien Lecornu says “favor consistency over mass”: receive less equipment, but ensure that it is operational and that the soldiers are trained in it.

“It’s the successors who will pay”

But the main grievance of the opposition concerns the timing of the efforts. To reach an annual budget of 69 billion in 2030, the executive plans to progress by “steps”: 3.1 billion in 2024, then an additional 3 billion per year from 2025 to 2027, and 4.3 billion more per year from from 2028, i.e. after the end of the Macron five-year term.

“We are announcing 413 billion to recover the glory, and it is the successors who will pay”, criticizes Laurent Jacobelli (National Rally, RN). “Budgetary issues have become a rehearsal gimmick, perhaps to justify a vote that some would not be able to justify otherwise,” grated Sébastien Lecornu in the hemicycle.

The socialist deputies at the forefront of the text denounced, in a forum in Le Monde, the budgetary trajectory and the lack of “coherence” of the programming. Environmentalists are also opposed to the long-term continuation of the deterrent and the construction of a new aircraft carrier.

Aurélien Saintoul (La France insoumise) pointed to too “deep” differences on NATO’s integrated command, on Franco-German armament programs, but also on the question of universal national service which he fears will see generalized to meet the objectives of increasing reservists, which this text does not provide for as it stands.

The bill also establishes strict control of soldiers and civilians who have performed sensitive functions and wish to work for a State or a foreign company. It also extends the powers of requisitioning of the State from companies involved in defence.

Finally, it strengthens the powers of the National Agency for the Security of Information Systems in the fight against cyberattacks, despite serious concerns on the left for the protection of data and public freedoms.