Socialist MP Valérie Rabault, in the National Assembly, on February 6, 2023 during the debates on pension reform (AFP/Archives/Ludovic MARIN)
In the continuation of the battle for pensions, the deputies will vote on Monday on a new motion of censure, the 17th tabled by the opposition against the government of Elisabeth Borne in a year.
The socialist Valérie Rabault must kick off the debates in the hemicycle at 4:00 p.m. She will defend this motion of the left alliance Nupes, a response after the failure last Thursday of an attempt to repeal the retirement age at 64. The measure could not be voted on in the National Assembly, which signs an “anti-democratic coup”, according to the supporters of the motion.
But without the support of the right, it is unlikely that censure will be voted on, on this day which coincides with the anniversary of the first round of the legislative elections a year ago.
For the chairman of the Finance Committee of the Assembly Eric Coquerel (LFI), it is nevertheless necessary to “mark the occasion”, “red lines” having been crossed, even if “a priori we will have a slightly less good result than the last time” in March.
The presidential camp pinpoints a “form of tragic repetition”.
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne leaves the Elysée Palace in Paris on May 30, 2023 (AFP/Alain JOCARD)
“Regularly, some of the opposition leads us to demonstrate again that there is no alternative majority”, sweeps the Prime Minister who had narrowly escaped an overthrow of his government in March, with nine votes.
Nineteen LR deputies out of 61 then voted for a motion by the independent group Liot, after the head of government resorted to the constitutional weapon of 49.3 to pass the pension reform.
The situation has changed, judge one of them, Aurélien Pradié, who “does not think” to vote for the motion on Monday: “It is disconnected from the subject, from the pension reform”.
In its text, the left points out that “the government and its majority have again flouted the rights of Parliament to prevent it from deciding on the repeal” of the 64-year-old.
The deputies LFI, PS, EELV and PCF also denounce there “the constant contempt, since the beginning of the mobilization against the pension reform, displayed with regard to our fellow citizens and the trade unions”.
– “Alliance of opposites” –
The repeal proposal had fueled the flame of protest against the reform, despite its promulgation in mid-April. But the oppositions failed to obtain a vote on Thursday on the flagship measure of the text carried by the Liot group, it having been rejected in the name of its “inadmissibility”.
The president of the Liot group Bertrand Pancher (C) speaks to the press on June 8, 2023 at the National Assembly in Paris (AFP/Archives/Ludovic MARIN)
The Liot deputies (Freedoms, Independents, Overseas and Territories) did not table a new motion, “the conditions for success” of such an initiative not being “currently met, in particular because of the attitude of ‘part of the Les Républicains’ group.
In addition, “we do not want a rejection of a motion of censure to be instrumentalized by the government and its relative majority as a vote of rejection” of the repeal proposal, specifies Bertrand Pancher’s group, which leaves the freedom to vote for its members.
On the other hand, the RN deputies led by Marine Le Pen will vote in one block for the Nupes motion, as has already happened in recent months. “We want Ms. Borne to go with her reform under her arm, and above all, we want there to be a vote because there was no vote in the National Assembly” on pensions, explains Sebastien Chenu.
The president of the Renaissance parliamentary group in the National Assembly, Aurore Bergé, on March 20, 2023 at the National Assembly, in Paris (AFP/Archives/Bertrand GUAY)
In return, Aurore Bergé, leader of the Renaissance group (presidential majority), taunts “an alliance of opposites” which wants to bring down the government and “freeze the country” by blocking reforms.
After the 14th day of social mobilization last Tuesday, which recorded the lowest participation in five months of demonstrations, the executive hopes to be able to turn the page on pensions.
The intersyndicale must meet on Thursday and will try to maintain its unity around new battles.
For her part, Ms. Borne insists that she is “at work” with her government to respond to the “concerns of the French”, in particular to find a majority in order to pass a text on immigration.
The Matignon tenant is subject to another deadline, that of July 14, after the 100 days set by Emmanuel Macron to relaunch the five-year term.
© 2023 AFP
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