In the heart of the cauldron. Invectives, outbursts, passes of arms, boos and whistles: the debates on the pension reform began with intensity this week in the chamber of the National Assembly. And while hundreds of thousands of people gave their voices in the processions against the government project, parliamentarians and members of the government also raised their voices inside the Palais-Bourbon.
As of 3:00 p.m., hostilities began with questions to the government, where deputies can question a member of the executive. Louis Boyard in particular accused Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin of “repressing young people” by mentioning that several high school students were “hit in the face” and tear gassed when they tried to blockad their establishments.
“You are the caricature of what I denounce, the bordélization of the country!” replied Gerald Darmanin.
Olivier Dussopt implicated by the Nupes
The executive also found himself in trouble when Iñaki Echaniz, who caught Olivier Dussopt repeating almost “word for word” the question about pensions that he had addressed to Éric Woerth in 2010.
The Minister of Labor, suspected of favoritism by the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office in the case of two works of art received as gifts in 2017, it was also questioned by Aurélien Saintoul (LFI). “You no longer run a government but a cesspool,” the elected official launched at Elisabeth Borne.
The Prime Minister reiterated her confidence in him. “He has my confidence and that of the president. He was a committed deputy and mayor. He is a committed minister,” she said.
After the questions to the government, the deputies approved at the end of the day the introductory article of the bill. But the government was not far from a big defeat: the article was voted for by only 246 deputies, 229 elected members voted against. A close vote, which shows that the absolute majority in the pension reform as a whole is far from being acquired by the executive, as our BFMTV COUNTER points out.
Aurore Bergé denounces the “stratagems” of the opposition
Therefore, on Tuesday night, the National Assembly began to examine article 1, which aims to abolish the main special regimes. “Are we not there, in pure ideology?” Sandrine Rousseau joked. “The RATP lacks drivers, we can’t take the subway, it’s about to crack, come on, come on, we’re breaking social rights!” denounced the elected ecologist.
“Don’t go crying if, by chance, your telephone service lines are cut off for two or three hours a week,” launched the communist deputy Sébastien Jumel.
The communist deputies tried to suspend the debates by voting on the constitution of a special commission for the Assembly to examine, instead of the government project, the project of the GDR group. A “new scheme” denounced by the president of the Renaissance group Aurore Bergé.
The request of the communist deputies was rejected by 260 deputies (127 in favour) and, therefore, the debates on the pension reform have resumed.
Boos and applause for Quatennens
Due to a “tunnel” of amendments, the deputies were still blocked this Tuesday night on article 1 of the bill. But the afternoon session was marked by Adrien Quatennens’ first floor speech since his conviction for domestic violence. As he was preparing to defend an amendment, the representative from the North was interrupted by elected representatives of the majority.
“What is happening tonight cannot be ignored,” said Pierre Cazeneuve (Renaissance).
“We had points of order for two days, the deputies left this chamber becausethey did not win the raffleand when one of his colleagues who was convicted of beating his wife talk about an amendment you stay stoic”, continued the deputy.
“Worse than that, you applaud him! Where are we? It’s a scandal! It’s a shame!” concluded the parliamentarian, while several rebel people showed frank support for Adrien Quattennes. Several Nupes deputies have also left the chamber, including environmentalists Sandrine Rousseau and Marie-Charlotte Garin.
Following this “tumult”, the session was suspended for a few minutes before calmly resuming. It was concluded shortly after midnight, as provided for in the regulations of the National Assembly. The debates will resume this Wednesday morning, starting at 9 am. Still in the sound and fury?
Source: BFM TV
