The Senate, formerly seen as an obstacle by the macronie, is now essential for the executive in order to pass its texts to Parliament.
Hervé Marseille is very proud of his formula. “Since last year, they no longer have a majority. As they say in rural areas, the flies have changed their donkey.” The boss of the UDI, president of the centrist group in the Senate, targets those responsible for the majority and the government who, since the loss of the absolute majority in the National Assembly, consider the upper house with more respect. The majority’s attention to the Senate is all the more marked as it will be renewed by half during the senatorial elections of September 24, even if the majority should remain on the right.
“In the Fifth Republic, the Senate is intended to help the government if it cannot succeed with the Assembly. Here we are!”
Jean-Jacques Urvoas, former Minister of Justiceat franceinfo
For the former socialist Minister of Justice, now professor of public law, the Senate has become “indispensable to the executive”.
A situation very different from the previous five-year term, where the executive could rely on its plethoric absolute majority at the Palais Bourbon. “If the Senate did not agree, fundamentally, it was not very serious, we would pass the text whatever happened”, remembers a Renaissance deputy. Relations between the President of the Senate and the President of the Republic were then “very fresh”he euphemizes. “Gérard Larcher himself said: ‘The Senate is the opposition'”, insists François Patriat, the leader of the Macronist group in the Senate. The breaking point having been reached in 2018 when the Senate decided to create a commission of inquiry into the Benalla affair, to the great dismay of the majority.
The Senate is no longer snubbed
“When there was a strong majority in the Assembly, the executive sought to do without the Senate,” further affirms Hervé Marseille.
“The Senate was considered a hindrance, an opponent, and could be considered unpleasant, as with the Benalla affair.”
Hervé Marseille, president of the centrist Union group in the Senateat franceinfo
Same observation in the senatorial opposition. “In 2017, it was the negation of parliamentary work, with government texts passing without modificationunderlines Guillaume Gontard, the leader of environmentalists in the Senate. We had very few meetings and contacts with ministers.”
On this last point, things have already changed, according to these elected officials from several sides. “We have increased contacts with ministers and the Prime Minister”, says Patrick Kanner. The boss of the socialist senators recounts, for example, his surprise at seeing two ministers, Gérald Darmanin and Olivier Dussopt, arrive in his office to discuss the immigration bill. “It’s completely unusual.”he assures. For Guillaume Gontard, “the big development is the link with Les Républicains: the negotiations are between them and the government, which sees them as partners.”
A right that emerges strengthened
Bruno Retailleau, the boss of the 145 senators of the Les Républicains party, insists on the new power of his group. “The National Assembly no longer has the last word because there is no longer a majority. In joint committee [qui réunit 7 sénateurs et 7 députés chargés de trouver un compromis sur un texte], the government wants an agreement. As we are consistent with our centrist allies, we have coalitions of 7 or 8 votes against 6 or 7 votes.”
“We have negotiating power that we didn’t have before.”
Bruno Retailleau, president of the LR group in the Senateat franceinfo
“The right is in the majority in the joint committee, it has plenty of time to impose its vision”summarizes Senator Eliane Assassi, the president of the communist group. On the majority side, we are well aware of this new situation. “We have tremendous pressure to have conclusive CMPs because otherwise we go back for a second reading in the Assembly, with the risk of falling back into a logic of negotiations”, adds a Renaissance deputy. Fact, “the power of the Senate is much stronger”.
More subdued debates
Strategically, the presidential camp has also chosen to pass more and more texts first to the Senate, then to the Assembly. “It is a mark of consideration towards the Senate and an additional assurance of arriving at a conclusive CMP since they will be able to submit their requests, and react to us”, continues the same deputy, who also sees senators as “partners”.
“We are faced with crazy things with the extremes of the Assembly. We find in the Senate a form of rationality and a sense of the general interest. The senators are calm and very good at compromising.”
A Renaissance MPat franceinfo
“At home, we respect each other and we manage to find compromises”, agrees François Patriat. The very stormy climate in the National Assembly contrasts with the calm of the Senate. “The hysterization of the National Assembly baffles the governmentsays Bruno Retailleau. In the Senate, they have a more calm debate where technique comes into play.”
Result : “The government only has room for negotiation with the Senate”, notes Jean-Jacques Urvoas. The perfect illustration remains the pension reform. The government believed it would reach an agreement with the leaders of LR to be able to pass its very unpopular bill. And if the Senate voted for the text adopted in the joint committee, the executive was forced to draw 49.3 in the face of the indecision of certain Republican deputies. “We were supportive because the government took over what we did every year”, justifies Bruno Retailleau. The senators voted for an amendment to the Social Security Financing Bill aimed at raising the legal retirement age to 64 years.
“The Senate responded, they supported the government on the pensions project.”
Frédéric Valletoux, Horizons MPat franceinfo
More generally, “the senatorial majority makes it appear that it is in opposition but there is not a text that it has not voted for”assures Guillaume Gontard. “They oppose each other nicely”mocks Eliane Assassi. “We are on a line that I had characterized as opposition of general interest”retorts Bruno Retailleau.
A cordial understanding soon threatened?
If the Senate has indeed voted for a very large majority of the texts of Emmanuel Macron’s second five-year term, it could be quite different for the immigration bill. The tenors of LR are firmly opposed to the creation of a residence permit for professions in shortage. “SIf the government gives us a text that suits us or that we amend in our direction, we will vote for itwarns Bruno Retailleau. If the government does not eliminate professions in shortage then we will vote against, things are very clear.”
After having been “partners” on pensions, Republican elected officials are playing here on their credibility as opponents of Emmanuel Macron. And thanks to their majority in the Senate, they have “more cards in hand than the government”assures Jean-Jacques Urvoas. “They are not the alpha and omega eitherwishes to qualify Frédéric Valletoux. Yes, they carry more weight in the negotiations, whether technical or political, but they don’t set the tone.” But, in times of relative majority, it is difficult to know who is still calling the shots.