Setback for the executive: the National Assembly rejected this Wednesday in first reading the controversial reform of nuclear security, some voices of the majority joined the left to oppose the “dismantling” of the Institute dedicated to security (IRSN).
The government would like to found the Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), a technical expert, within the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN), the central police force.
But the deputies approved by show of hands an amendment by Benjamin Saint-Huile, of the independent Liot group, to preserve a “dual organization” between the Institute and the Security Authority, unraveling all this sensitive article of the nuclear reactivation project. law.
However, the topic is not closed. The bill, currently under consideration in the Assembly, has yet to continue its parliamentary journey.
The left protested against the “precipitation” of a “Hussardian” reform, a “dangerous proposal” according to the environmentalist deputy and former minister Delphine Batho. It’s a “regular teardown”. “We need this independence of the investigation, within the IRSN”, insisted the Insoumise Aurélie Trouvou.
Some voices from the majority, including that of former minister Barbara Pompili (Renaissance) also joined the plate.
“Without any impact study”, “it is crazy that they throw that at us like this, contrary to the conclusions of all the parliamentary work for ten years” on the subject, he said. “I’m shocked.”
“I am shocked”
The Minister for Energy Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, responded directly by addressing her: “You know perfectly well that this reform and this questioning were already underway a few months ago, we are not going to get into this debate.”
“There is no change, at any time, in any line of our nuclear safety procedures,” he hammered.
And why this merger now? “Because it is now that we are organizing the mobilization of all the capabilities of the sector to be ready to succeed in a nuclear reactivation program,” he replied to the parliamentarians.
The MoDem, divided on the issue, wanted to propose a compromise amendment with a parliamentary follow-up committee.
In LR, although “a little surprised by the way”, Jérôme Nury considered that this merger could be a “guarantee of efficiency” to “speed up procedures”. “The sky will not fall on nuclear security if there is a merger between ASN and IRSN,” according to the elected official.
Source: BFM TV
