Army Budget Reviews: Macron Reframes the Military
The president did not appreciate that the great mute* openly criticizes the budget of the armies
"I consider that it is not worthy to display certain debates in the public square,"
Emmanuel Macron said before the military community on the eve of the traditional parade on 14 July.
"I am your leader," says Macron
The President was obviously referring to the Chief of the Defense Staff, General Pierre de Villiers, who protested in front of deputies against the financial effort required of the armies in 2017. "I am your leader. Our fellow citizens and before the armies, I know how to hold them, "said the head of state referring to the promise to
increase the Defense effort to 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2025 .
"And I do not need any pressure and no comment in this regard," he added, reminding the military of their "sense of duty and reserve".
On Wednesday, General de Villiers ruled that the army had already "given everything" and that the situation was "unsustainable", according to several participants. "I'm not going to get fucked like that," he added, asking that the financial commitments made by the president be translated into facts without delay.
A decrease of 850 million credits
In an article in FigaroVox, de Villiers showed more measured approach, calling to initiate the effort "from 2018" and to maintain it "in the long term". "It is on this condition that our armies can remain what they are and reflect what they embody," he wrote.
The armed forces will have to assume this year the extra cost of external operations (850 million euros) which was so far distributed among the other ministries, according to Tuesday's arbitrations to contain the budget deficit.
Their budget will remain unchanged compared to what was voted by the Parliament for 2017 (32.7 billion euros). But they will ultimately suffer a drop of 850 million credits for the purchase of equipment, some of which will have to be postponed or canceled.
Macron promises an increase in defense effort from 2018
In particular, they need in-flight refueling aircraft, helicopters and armored vehicles to renew aging equipment, which are sorely lacking today in major theaters of operations such as Europe.
The head of state said that the effort required was "legitimate and feasible without in any way affecting the security of our troops, our military orders and the situation as it is today." He assured that the budget of the Armies would increase from 2018 in order to respect the commitment to reach 2% of the GDP by 2025.
