The National Assembly approves the proposed “aging well” law while some of the opposition calls for a “old age” law

This text is a first step on the road to a “old age” law repeatedly promised by the government.

The Assembly adopted the “aging well” law on Tuesday March 19, a week after an agreement reached between deputies and senators in a joint committee. The bill, which proposes “various measures relating to old age and autonomy” was approved by 177 deputies against 51. It still needs to be definitively adopted by Parliament and voted on by the Senate next week.

This large score does not mask the numerous reservations expressed by the deputies: the socialists, who had voted for the law in November, had this time tabled a motion of rejection aimed at cutting short the debate.

A way for them to protest against the government’s lack of commitment regarding the old age law. If former Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne had hoped that a text could be presented by the summer of 2024 to make this promise from the President of the Republic a reality, the Minister of Solidarity Catherine Vautrin sowed doubt in January. Recognizing a “commitment” of the executive, she also affirmed that “article 34 (of the Constitution) does not provide at this stage for the capacity of a programming law for this type of activity”.

A letter of opposition to Gabriel Attal

Although sharing the PS’s wish for an old age law, LR voted against its motion to reject. One of the articles of the law precisely promises a multi-year old age programming law, underlined during the session the deputy LR Josiane Corneloup. But nine heads of parliamentary groups, including the president of the LR group Olivier Marleix, asked in an open letter to Prime Minister Gabriel Attal on Tuesday for a “solemn commitment, associated with a precise timetable, concerning the tabling and examination of this bill relating to old age”.

Questioned on the subject during the government questions session, Fadila Khattabi, Minister Delegate in charge of the Elderly, remained evasive. “We will debate together (…) on strategies, governance issues and of course the question of financing, (…) and we will take the necessary measures, including legislative measures”did she say.