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Sunday, November 10, 2024

Budget 2025: Lawmakers Propose Elimination of Universal National Service, Government Opposes

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The Universal National Service (SNU), a program introduced by Emmanuel Macron in 2017, faces significant budget cuts as parliamentarians debate its viability. The National Assembly and Senate both voted to reduce its funding, questioning its effectiveness and high costs amid government savings efforts. Critics, including left-wing politicians, label the SNU a costly failure. Despite the proposed cuts, the government insists it does not plan to abolish the program but acknowledges financial constraints hinder its expansion.

The Universal National Service (SNU), a commitment from Emmanuel Macron in 2017, is facing significant challenges as it has been excluded from the current Finance Bill discussions in the National Assembly and Senate Finance Committees. On October 30, lawmakers from both chambers supported the removal of the program from the national budget, raising concerns over the fundamental concept of the SNU and its projected costs, deemed excessive amid the government’s pursuit of 60 billion euros in budget cuts.

At the National Assembly, opposition from the left was strong regarding the SNU. Ecologist deputy Jean-Claude Raux labeled it a ‘presidential gadget’ that is ineffective and expensive. Socialist Pierrick Courbon criticized it as a ‘budgetary heresy’ that has ‘failed to meet its goals’. The members of the Nouveau Front populaire, showing more attendance than their government counterparts, successfully pushed for an amendment that would redirect the 128 million euros allocated for the SNU in 2025 towards the amateur sports sector. However, this decision is largely symbolic at this point, as the overall debate will revert to the government’s original proposal.

‘Insufficient added value from the SNU’

Later that evening, the Senate took a similar stance, voting to reduce SNU funding by 100 million euros, a measure that will be brought forth again when the Senate reviews the budget’s expenditure in early December. Socialist Senator Eric Jeansannetas, who presented his report on Youth funding, remarked that ‘after five years of experimentation, it does not appear that the SNU provides sufficient added value (…) to justify its continued deployment’. He also pointed out that its ‘objectives are stagnating’.

Sports and Youth Minister Gil Avérous recently acknowledged on Sud Radio that his budget does not allow for the SNU’s expansion. ‘In 2025, it won’t be feasible; in 2026, I can’t envision it happening,’ he stated, while also emphasizing that ‘there are no plans for its abolition’ but indicated the need to reassess a ‘malfunctioning’ program. Additionally, the Cour des Comptes has issued a critical review of the SNU, estimating its annual costs to be between 3.5 and 5 billion euros.

The government’s position remains firm

Despite these legislative proposals, the government has not endorsed the elimination of the SNU. Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon clarified post-cabinet meeting that ‘the administration does not intend to abolish the SNU’. However, she also reiterated that ‘the financial situation does not permit the generalization’ of the initiative.

The SNU, a campaign promise from the Head of State, was launched in 2019 with intentions of being widely implemented by the 2026 school year, as previously announced by former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal. The program is designed to promote ‘general interest missions’ and ‘cohesion stays’ incorporating sports, cultural, and intellectual activities, starting with the ‘raising of the colors’—the national flag and anthem—along with a uniform.

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