The adoption of the law on military programming is not far off

The date is symbolic. The law on the seven-year military programming with the red thread of the modernization of the armies should be finally passed on the eve of the National Day.

This bill was widely adopted for the second time on Wednesday in the Assembly. This Thursday morning, it will be submitted to the final vote in the Senate.

In the context of international tensions over the war in Ukraine and requests for additional budgets from NATO member states, this military programming law plans to allocate 413.3 billion euros to the Armed Forces over the seven years from 2024 to 2030. 13.3 billion comes from extra-budgetary resources. A trajectory that will be confirmed annually in state budgets.

40% increase over the previous law

Thus, compared to the previous law on programming, the budget will be increased by 40%, with the bulk of the spending carried out after 2027, i.e. after the end of Emmanuel Macron’s five-year term. However, in the joint committee of deputies and senators, by 2027 it is necessary to issue an envelope of 2.3 billion as soon as possible.

LR’s Senate rapporteur Christian Cambon welcomed the “extension” thanks to the “intervention of the president of the Senate” Gerard Larcher, who, according to the senator, “contacted the prime minister”.

The vote in the Senate on this text is hardly in doubt. In the first reading, the upper house as a whole supported the text (314 votes to 17), only a group of communists voted against it, while environmentalists abstained in the majority.

In fact, real doctrinal differences have also arisen between the presidential camp and part of the left on nuclear deterrence, which makes up 13% of loans and is consecrated as a “base” of national defense, while the communists and environmentalists want to initiate an exit.

France’s place in NATO was also marked by debate. It even splits inside the left. The PCF and LFI, unlike the socialists, want to withdraw from the joint command.

Given the conflict in Ukraine

Drawing lessons from the conflict in Ukraine, LPM is allocating 16 billion euros for ammunition and 5 billion for air and ground defense. However, despite a significant effort of $268 billion in equipment, the armies will receive fewer armored vehicles, rafales or frigates than planned in the previous program.

In terms of workforce, the government expects 275,000 full-time military and civilian personnel in 2030 (excluding reservists). But due to the “dependence on the reality of the labor market”, the ministry will be able to direct “recruitment” loans to the loyalty of the troops (bonuses, benefits, etc.).

In addition, the text also provides for investments in the modernization of the army: 10 billion for innovation, 6 for space, 5 for drones, 4 for cyber and digitalization.

Finally, this text will clarify the powers of the state to requisition, which is a matter of concern on social media. Some see it as the right to requisition “any person” and “all property”. In reality, these possibilities will remain limited to military defense.