In the midst of a debate on the pension reform, the Executive activated article 44-3 of the Constitution this Friday in the Senate. This allows for a “blocked vote”. Thus, “if the government requests it”, “the seized assembly” can “pronounce[r] by a single vote on all or part of the text under discussion, retaining only the amendments proposed or accepted by the government”.
This was done by the Minister of Labor, Olivier Dussopt, before the elected representatives of the Luxembourg Palace, specifying the amendments retained by the government on articles 9 to 20 of the bill, which have not yet been voted on.
“Obstruction”
Only these amendments will be debated, without questioning the fate of those that were adopted earlier. Objective for the presidential camp: that the text be adopted before midnight on Sunday, the date on which the debates in the Upper House must end at the latest.
To justify the use of this provision, Olivier Dussopt pointed to “the obstruction of opposition groups” by targeting more particularly the left. This “obstruction”, “which becomes systematic”, according to him, “has the sole objective of preventing the senators from ruling on the provisions of this text and this reform, which are important for the future of the French”.
Faced with this situation, “the option of the Government is that of the clarity of the debates both for the senators and for the French who are watching us,” advanced the ex-socialist.
The president of the session, Nathalie Delattre, specified that “the thousand amendments” remaining will still be debated. However, they will not be voted on, which has the effect of speeding up the discussions. These modifications mainly refer to hard work and retirement at 1200 euros.
“Strike Force”
As expected, the left criticized this decision, denouncing a “coup de force”.
“You have decided to show the country your intentions, which I would describe as reactionary,” attacked Patrick Kanner, leader of the Socialist senators.
Before his environmentalist counterpart, Guillaume Gontard, takes over by signaling an “admission of weakness”. For him, “it is an alienation from the government, it is shameful.”
“Victor Hugo had called his dog the Senate. The Senate has become the government’s dog,” estimated the senator from Isère.
According to information from BFMTV.com, the three left-wing groups in the Senate (Socialists, Ecologists and Communists) will organize a conference between 3:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to express a common message after this decision.
Source: BFM TV
