The Senate adopted on Wednesday at second reading a text aimed at “protecting EDF from dismemberment” and extending regulated electricity prices to small businesses, in particular farmers, a “big victory” for the socialists who now intend to do so vote by the Assembly against the advice of the government.
The bill from PS deputy Philippe Brun, already adopted twice in the National Assembly and now twice in the Senate, received support from both sides of the chamber, with the Les Républicains group also showing support. This left-right alliance could allow the final adoption of this text on February 29 in the National Assembly, despite the government’s reluctance, as part of a day reserved for the socialist group.
A response to the agricultural revolt
“It’s a big victory because for the first time, an opposition law will be adopted with this formalism. See you on February 29,” enthused the leader of the PS deputies Boris Vallaud on X. In front of the farmers’ revolt, the left brandished this text as a response to rising costs. It allows the extension of regulated electricity sale prices to small businesses, particularly targeting craftsmen, small farmers and small municipalities. The deputies had extended the system to SMEs, but the Senate remained more measured.
Victory !
The Senate has just adopted the bill on #EDF of @p_brunwith the return of regulated electricity prices useful to craftsmen, traders and farmers.
On February 29, the @socialistesAN will submit this law to the Assembly for its final adoption. pic.twitter.com/wRJ8PJyIID
— Boris VALLAUD (@BorisVallaud) January 24, 2024
“We must allow farmers to live and reduce their electricity bill,” insisted the first secretary of the PS Olivier Faure in the morning, referring to an “essential” text. “To oppose it is to take responsibility for the death of part of our businesses. And for farmers, it’s the same thing,” he added.
“I want to reassure everyone,” says Bruno Le Maire
In the Senate, the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire was rather hostile: “There was never any question of the dismemberment of EDF. I want to reassure everyone here,” he grumbled before seeing all his amendments rejected. The bill still protects in law the 100% ownership of EDF by the State, which is already effective.
The senatorial majority of the right and the center also provided for the creation of a “ten-year contract” linking the company to the State, updated every three years and supposed to determine EDF’s objectives in terms of production or even “price control for households”.
A share of employee shareholding is also proposed, obliging EDF to open at least 2% of its capital to its employees and former employees. A provision which “goes too far” according to Bruno Le Maire, who criticized the senators for “encroaching on the freedom of employees to invest their money”.