Military programming law: state of alert, former spies… These measures that are debated

The project to update the Military Planning Law (LPM) has been under examination at the National Assembly since Monday, May 4. It is also closely watched by associations and public opinion, which highlight several problematic measures. This bill, presented last July by Emmanuel Macron, sets out the major orientations and means of the French armed forces by 2030. It includes an additional 36 billion euros, bringing the total budget to 436 billion. It also introduces a “state of national security alert,” which is reminiscent of the existing state of emergency.

This mechanism could be activated on all or part of the territory by decree adopted in the Council of Ministers. According to Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin, it would allow for a rapid response in complex situations. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu detailed in late March that this “new framework” should temporarily adapt rules to accelerate decisions, simplify procedures, and overcome obstacles.

In a column published on May 3, several associations and unions, including the Human Rights League, France Nature Environment, the Magistrates’ Union, and the CGT, denounced the creation of this tool. They argue that it could lead to derogations from labor law, environmental law, and heritage law. They express concern that this is essentially an unnamed state of emergency triggered by the government under vague criteria.

Practically speaking, according to TF1/LCI, this regime could strengthen the security perimeters of sensitive sites, facilitate the storage of ammunition or fuel, accelerate the deployment of “French or allied armed forces,” and expedite the construction of additional camps and logistics infrastructure. Private security agents at certain sensitive sites might also be authorized and trained to defend against potential drone attacks.

Additionally, the newspaper Le Monde reported last month that the text indicates certain constraints could be lifted to allow the state to engage requisitions not just from arms manufacturers, but from the entire civilian and health logistics chain. This aims to enable France to fulfill its rearward base role in Europe in the event of conflict on the eastern flank.

Another measure, equally controversial, calls for validation of books, research articles, conferences, tribunes, or documentaries produced by French intelligence agents or ex-agents. Criticized as infringing on freedom of expression, this provision requires former agents to declare and submit their work to the responsible minister for approval before publication, or face criminal penalties.

The publisher Louis de Mareuil warned against the significant risk of a form of censorship of manuscripts covering little-known periods of recent history, in which the services played a significant role and deserve to be recounted, like the Franco-African relations or Algeria.