Worried as the end of the winter break approaches on Friday, the left has risen to the front in the National Assembly, where a bill from the presidential majority against squats was examined on Wednesday at second reading.
At the call of associations fighting against poor housing, a few dozen people gathered around the Palais Bourbon to call in parallel for the withdrawal of the text which will be the subject of a solemn vote next Tuesday.
The bill, carried by the Renaissance and Horizons groups and supported by the right and the RN, plans to triple the penalties incurred by squatters, up to three years in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros.
Its author, Guillaume Kasbarian (Renaissance), claims to be tackling an important problem that outrages our fellow citizens, that of illegal occupation.
The left-wing deputies sought in vain to reconsider an addition made by the senators at first reading: by this article, the judge will no longer be able to grant time limits to squatters whose expulsion has been legally ordered.
We must trust the judge, insisted the patroness of environmental deputies, Cyrielle Chatelain, to the address of the Minister of Justice, Eric Dupond-Moretti, present.
The elected Communist of Seine-Saint-Denis Stphane Peu was indignant, stressing that these deadlines were granted in particular in situations with young children. But the 115 (emergency number for the homeless) is saturated and the enforceable right to housing does not work, he said.
A most precarious stigma
The new article stigmatizes the most precarious at the very end of the winter break, added Martine Etienne (LFI). During this truce, from November 1 to March 31, the eviction of tenants is postponed – but the truce does not apply to squatters.
The bill also speeds up procedures in the event of unpaid rent. In particular, lease contracts systematically provide for an automatic termination clause, which the owner can activate without having to take legal action.
The judge may grant a payment deadline to the tenant, but provided that the latter seizes it, the deputies predicted, while the senators had removed this condition.
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According to the socialist Iaki Echaniz, who unsuccessfully defended a prior rejection motion, the text risks increasing the number of homeless people.
Mr. Dupond-Moretti was pleased with the parliamentary work carried out, which, according to him, allows a balance between the defense of real estate and the right to housing.
The Minister of Housing, Olivier Klein, assured not to oppose the sanction measures and an ambitious policy for housing.
In the evening, the deputies validated the continuation of the system for the temporary provision of vacant premises for social purposes. An LFI amendment was adopted so that the State carries out checks when private companies are involved. Mr. Klein mentioned a forthcoming charter on the subject.
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