The elected representative of Deux-Sèvres, national coordinator of Génération Écologie, invited the government on franceinfo “not to persist” by asking for a second deliberation on the text.
“It’s a snub for the government”, estimated, on franceinfo, the deputy of Deux-Sèvres Delphine Batho, national coordinator of Génération Écologie, after the rejection at first reading by the National Assembly of the nuclear safety reform on Wednesday March 15. The text provides for the merger of the Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), a technical expert, and the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN), the power station policeman.
“The government is carrying out a reform of nuclear safety – which is a serious, serious subject – lightly, in a hussar”judge Delphine Batho. “This reform is extremely dangerous.” According to her, the rejection of the text is “the result of the mobilization of IRSN employees and numerous experts in nuclear safety”which allowed a “a number of deputies, of all sensitivities, began to inquire, began to want to understand the stakes of this reform and finally did not vote for it”.
“We cannot play with nuclear safety in our country.”
Delphine Batho, MP for Deux-Sèvreson franceinfo
“Merging what is now IRSN with the Nuclear Safety Authority calls into question the independence and transparency of the expertise, which then feeds into the opinions of the Nuclear Safety Authority”adds Delphine Batho, recalling that the French nuclear fleet is “aging”Has “stress corrosion problems”which puts “a heavy workload for all those who work in the field of nuclear safety”.
Second deliberation possible
The national coordinator of Generation Ecology therefore believes that “this is the worst time to reorganize”. “When you merge organizations or services, it takes three or four years for things to stabilize”. Delphine Batho ensures that this reform “leads to paralysis at a time when we need, on the contrary, to be at the top of our capacities in terms of nuclear safety”.
“I would strongly advise the government not to push hard.”
Delphine Batho, MP for Deux-Sèvreson franceinfo
Despite this vote, the government can still resort to a second deliberation. But for the deputy, “it would be taking on a very serious responsibility”. “Most of the laws concerning nuclear safety in France have been adopted with large, almost consensual majorities”she points out. “Whether we are for nuclear power or whether we are against nuclear power or for the exit from nuclear power, there are nuclear installations in France today, and they must operate as safely as possible.” Delphine Batho calls on the executive to “respect Parliament’s vote, hear what has been said by MEPs of all persuasions and radically change the method”.