The National Assembly adopted, Thursday, February 9, in first reading and against the opinion of the government, a socialist text for a “nationalization” of EDF without the risk of “dismantling”but also for a tariff shield extended to craftsmen, in particular bakers.
The text of the deputy of Eure Philippe Brun was adopted with 205 votes against one, at the end of a stormy meeting between the opposition and the presidential camp, which left the hemicycle on the grounds that one of the articles circumvents , according to him, the Constitution about the tariff shield.
The deputies of the majority judge the measure without legal link with the bill of nationalization of EDF, and contrary to the Constitution, because it adds a financial burden for the State. “This is an extremely serious precedent for our institutions, it is a very clear violation of Article 40 of the Constitution”said the general rapporteur of the finance committee, Jean-René Cazeneuve (Renaissance).
“We refuse to participate in what is a disgrace to the Assembly. […] Under these conditions the majority pre… https://t.co/WZqghsamgV
The fear of the return of the “Hercules” project
The adoption of the text, which will now have to be studied by the Senate, is a significant victory for the Socialists. First, it provides for a “nationalization” of EDF, despite the fact that the government has already launched a public takeover bid to take up 100% of the electricity giant’s capital.
“This bill is useless”tried to argue Minister Roland Lescure, fearing that his adoption would weigh “a risk against the current operation” And “at best a setback”. Bercy argued Wednesday that the state held “95.82% of the capital”the remainder of the operation being suspended pending a decision by the Paris Court of Appeal on shareholder appeals.
But part of the opposition suspects the executive, despite its recurring denials, of not having really given up on “Hercules”, a controversial EDF restructuring project, which involved the separation of nuclear, hydroelectric and renewable activities.
“We don’t want Hercules or Heracles, whatever the name is” of a project of “dismemberment” of EDF, supported the chairman of the finance commission, Eric Coquerel (La France insoumise). The text therefore plans to engrave in stone the activities of the operator. “Bercy will no longer have a free hand. The future of EDF will now be discussed before the National Assembly”summed up the ecologist MP Charles Fournier.