The Senate must go “to the end” of the examination of the pension reform bill, its president, Gérard Larcher, pleaded this Wednesday, who said he wanted to do “the maximum” in his power to achieve it, on the eve of the arrival from the text to the hemicycle.
Although the National Assembly only managed to approve two of the 20 articles of the bill in the time allotted to it, “the Senate owes the citizens and the social partners a debate on the entire text”, underlines Gérard Larcher in an interview with Figaro.
In the Palais Bourbon, the discussions had stalled due to the thousands of amendments signed in particular by the left-wing opposition, but the tone should be different in the Senate, dominated by the right, and where “we don’t have the rebellious France”, argues Gérard Larcher.
Not “abusing” the right to amend
“The senatorial tradition leads us to a substantive debate, respect for differences and a certain conception of representative democracy”, insists the president of the Senate, highlighting “the words” of the presidents of the communist and socialist groups Éliane Assassi ( CRCE) and Patrick Kanner (PS) who “seem more like part of this tradition”.
“They will express their disagreements, but they will do so with respect for the institution,” he continues.
Gérard Larcher also called not to “cheat” the right of amendment, while the 4718 were presented before the start of the 110 hours of debate scheduled.
“If there is an obstruction, we will simply use the constitutional means and those of our regulations. I will do the most that a president of the assembly can do to get to the end of this debate, ”he warns.
“I don’t see how the government could back down”
Observing that the reform proposed by the Government, which postpones the retirement age from 62 to 64, is the one “voted on four years ago in the Senate”, Gérard Larcher raises two points of attention: “the situation of people elders” and “the women’s race”. that “they are important issues”.
“The government has an objective, the senatorial majority, requirements. All of that must match. (…) The text that will come out will not be that of the government but that of the Senate ”, he warns again.
In view of the great day of union action on March 7, Gérard Larcher also urges the executive to “consistency” and “courage”. “I don’t see how the government could back down,” he adds.
Source: BFM TV
