French National Assembly approves additional €36 billion for 2024-2030 military programming law
The French National Assembly on Tuesday approved an additional €36 billion for the 2024-2030 military programming law, bringing total planned military spending to €436 billion by the end of the decade. The bill passed 440-122, with support from the government camp, the National Rally, and the Socialists, while La France Insoumise and the Greens opposed it. Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin said the law allows France to respond to the acceleration of the threat, citing lessons from Ukraine and the Middle East.
The French National Assembly on Tuesday, May 19, approved an additional €36 billion for the 2024-2030 military programming law, bringing total planned military spending to €436 billion by the end of the decade. The bill was adopted in first reading by 440 votes to 122.
The National Rally and the Socialists voted for the bill alongside the government camp, while La France Insoumise and the Greens voted against. The bill is scheduled for Senate consideration starting June 2.
Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin said in the chamber: "Cette loi permet de répondre à l'accélération de la menace." She also defended "la nécessité d'accélérer, de densifier notre effort de réarmement," citing lessons from Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Covid crisis.
The bill includes a new exceptional regime that can be triggered by decree in the Council of Ministers in case of a "menace grave et actuelle" on all or part of national territory. The regime allows administrative simplifications, including derogations from environmental and urban planning norms. "Nous ne touchons pas aux libertés individuelles," Vautrin stated.
The provision drew criticism from the left. Bastien Lachaud (LFI) said the trigger criteria are "beaucoup trop flous" and argued that such a decision must go through Parliament. Léa Balage El Mariky (Ecologistes) said the article raises questions about the government's "caractère illibéral" and accused it of "singer Trump" by bypassing Parliament.
The bill allows private operators, including airports, to use drone jamming or neutralization devices and to delegate this task to private subcontractors. It also expands intelligence services' ability to use algorithms to track and exploit web connection data for national defense, organized crime, and drug or arms trafficking.
Additionally, the bill transforms the Journée défense et citoyenneté into a Journée de mobilisation focused on military issues.