Small majority, big damage. Since the start of the new legislature, the government has had to deal with a relative majority in the Assembly. The examination of the texts of laws has thus turned into an obstacle course for elected Macronists. Latest hiccup? On the evening of Monday July 25, an amendment to the amending finance bill was (again) adopted against the advice of the government. And this is not the first time this has happened, thanks to the combined voices of LR, RN and LFI. Franceinfo details the four times the executive was defeated by the opposition in the Assembly.
1On aid to households that use fuel oil
The latest setback for the government dates back to the examination of the second part of the “purchasing power package”. Just before dinner, Monday, July 25, un amendment tabled by Les Républicains proposes to vote an envelope of 230 million euros to support homes that heat with fuel oil. Gabriel Attal, the Minister of Public Accounts, then ensures that the government has indeed provided aid for these households, which it intends to put to the vote a few minutes later. Except that the quantification of this forbidden aid is only estimated at 50 million euros. Too little for opposition MPs. Rarely, all the opposition groups agreed to vote for the Republicans’ amendment providing for an envelope of 230 million euros.
An LR amendment creating financial assistance for homes heating with oil is adopted. The government had struck him with an unfavorable opinion, preferring a majority amendment committing 50 million euros instead of 230 million. #PLFR2022 #BuyingPower #DirectAN pic.twitter.com/PYMuMmBAd4
—LCP (@LCP) July 25, 2022
2On the compensation for the increase in the RSA
The affront came squarely from within. The Horizons group, yet a member of the presidential majority, voted on Saturday July 23 for an amendment supported by the left, the National Rally and Les Républicains, against the advice of the government. The text allocates 120 million euros to the departments which pay the RSA in 2022, to fully compensate for the 4% increase in this benefit.
A very symbolic vote for the deputies of Edouard Philippe’s party, who do not intend to be forgotten. This political message could even have cost a billion more if the compensation for communities for the 3.5% increase in the index point for civil servants had also been adopted. Finally, the Assembly adopted on Monday July 25 an envelope of 180 million euros for the benefit of municipalities and intermunicipalities in difficulty, in a “compromise” greeted in the Hemicycle.
3On the online termination of subscriptions
This time, the vote was so close by a show of hands that the session president, Hélène Laporte (RN), had to ask for a “sit-stand” vote and count the deputies one by one. Article 7 of the Purchasing Power Bill provided that contracts concluded online could also be terminated electronically. But the oppositions did not want to be content with it, Thursday, July 21, and extended this procedure to all subscription contracts, concluded online or not.
The combined paths of the National Rally, the Republicans and the Nupes thus made it possible to pass two identical amendments, one tabled by LFI, the other by LR. The government was not in favor of it. The Minister Delegate for Trade Olivia Grégoire feared that such an extension of the system would“imposes costs for all economic players who offer subscriptions”including craftsmen or SMEs who often do not have a website allowing online termination.
Against the opinion of the government and the committee, the Assembly adopted 2 similar amendments from the LFI and LR groups, which extend to contracts concluded offline (and therefore no longer only electronically), the compulsory option of simplified termination. #PJLPurchasing power pic.twitter.com/hEATF3mgLT
—LCP (@LCP) July 21, 2022
4On the border health pass
The government suffered its very first setback in the Assembly, on the night of Tuesday July 12 to Wednesday July 13, during the examination of the health bill. The disappointment began with the rejection of the possibility of restoring the border health pass for minors. Opposition groups ended up rejecting Article 2 altogether. This provided for the possibility of restoring the health pass for “extra-hexagonal” trips, to or from abroad.
Insubordinate France and the National Rally then hastened to claim victory, each taking credit for the setback inflicted on the Macronist majority. “The mobilization of the Nupes has led to victories: no health pass for minors, nor at the borders”had tweeted the deputy LFI Adrien Quatennens. “We have restored freedom”also rejoiced the deputy RN Sébastien Chenu, on franceinfo.
the #PJLCovidfirst text of the second quinquennium #Macron, fails to finish on the mat shortly. The mobilization of #NUPES allowed victories: no #Passesanitaire for minors, nor at borders, a test will suffice. The Assembly ceases to be a recording chamber! pic.twitter.com/D8GXdtqXKm
— Adrien Quatennens (@AQuatennens) July 13, 2022
The bill was finally rewritten by the right, majority in the Senate, which ended up reaching an agreement with the Macronist majority in a joint joint committee. The amended bill explicitly puts an end to the health pass from August 1 but provides for a possible compulsory test at the borders.