Former Housing Minister Emmanuelle Wargon confirmed as head of the Energy Regulatory Commission, despite opposition from a majority of parliamentarians

The majority of parliamentarians expressed themselves on Wednesday August 3 against the arrival of former housing minister Emmanuelle Wargon at the head of the Energy Regulation Commission (CRE). The elected officials did not, however, gather the qualified majority necessary to derail this appointment desired by the Élysée.

Emmanuelle Wargon, beaten in the Val-de-Marne during the last legislative elections, collected a total of 43 votes for and 48 against her appointment within the two chambers, according to a count sent to AFP by the services of the Senate. According to the Constitution, parliamentarians must, however, bring together “at least three-fifths of the votes cast” to oppose a nomination proposed by the President. In detail, the candidate gathered in the Senate 13 votes for, 20 votes against and 1 blank ballot. In the Assembly, his name received 30 votes for, 28 votes against and 2 abstentions.

The former minister had been proposed in July by the Élysée to chair the CRE, the independent authority responsible for guaranteeing the proper functioning of the French energy markets “for the benefit of the consumer”, a mission that is all the more important now with the crisis on the international markets. Hearing Wednesday morning by parliamentarians, she assured them of her independence. “I turned a page, I made a political commitment, this commitment ends with this appointment”she explained, specifying that she wanted to lead the CRE “freely”.