The opposition like the unions do not intend to disarm in crime from the final adoption of the text validated by the rejection of the two motions of censure against the government on Monday. For his part, Emmanuel Macron multiplies the consultations and will give a television interview on Wednesday at 1 p.m.
The overthrow of the government was played out with nine votes Monday, March 20 within the hemicycle. A tighter vote than expected, but Élisabeth Borne therefore remains in place and the pension reform is adopted. But this vote is far from having reduced the pressure on the executive. The opposition, like the unions, like the street do not intend to be satisfied with it.
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The opposition intends to use all possible institutional tools
This is what the left puts forward. For Arthur Delaporte, spokesman for the socialist group in the National Assembly, there are two ways. “The first is the appeal to the Constitutional Council that we are going to file, he explains. It is our primary objective to bring down the procedure that was used.” The procedure and in particular the famous 47.1 to reduce the time of the debates. The Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, will also seize “directly the Constitutional Council”, Matignon announced on Monday. The Chief Executive wishes that “all the points raised during the debates can be examined”.
“The second option is the Shared Initiative Referendum (RIP) which has been sent to the Constitutional Council, on which it now has one month to decide and which would allow French citizens to decide on the constitutionalization of the legal age of 62 and therefore ultimately prevents the entry into force of this reform”adds Arthur Delaporte.
On the side of the National Gathering, no RIP on the program. Elisabeth Borne “must leave” where the “president must resign her”, launched Marine Le Pen, several voices from the left also calling for his resignation. For Julien Odoul, spokesperson for the party, it is either dissolution or the government itself proposes a referendum. “It’s one or the other. There are two levers to calm the situation and get out of the crisis. It’s effectively the referendum to bring the French people to agreement and to give them back the floor on a central text or dissolution to send the French back to the polls and settle this political crisis.
All opposition groups agree on one point, it will take a very large mobilization next Thursday in the street. And even within the presidential majority, dissenting voices are heard. “We must put this reform on stand-by”, called on Tuesday March 21 on franceinfo Patrick Vignal, Renaissance deputy for Hérault. The elected official alerts the government, believing that“we can’t always govern with 49.3”.
Mobilization day on March 23
“Nothing undermines the determination of the workers”, warned the CGT, while the secretary general of the CFDT, Laurent Berger, called for mobilization for the next day of strikes and demonstrations scheduled for March 23. However, he expressed concern about “anger” And “violence” which could be expressed as a result of the adoption of a law which had not “no majority in the National Assembly”.
Demonstrations erupted spontaneously on Monday evening. In Paris, more than 230 people were arrested. The same scenes of tension were reproduced in several large cities, such as Lyon, Nantes, Rennes, or Strasbourg where some 2,000 people demonstrated, according to the prefecture. “It’s going to be crazy”, chanted the demonstrators in Lille.
France rebellious “demands immediate release” activists arrested “abusively” Monday in Paris, during the demonstrations. “Already, last Thursday, 292 people had been arrested. 283 of them were released without any prosecution. We demand an immediate end to these arbitrary arrests which aim to scare and intimidate”denounces the party.
Strike pickets, blocked roads, disrupted transport and for the first time since the start of the pension dispute, dry service stations also marred the day.
Emmanuel Macron consults all over the place to find a way out
Busy program for the Head of State who announced that he will give an interview on Wednesday March 22 at 1 p.m. at the Élysée, France 2 and TF1. In the meantime, he must receive Élisabeth Borne on Tuesday morning, lunch with the presidents of the Assembly and the Senate, Yaël Braun-Pivet and Gérard Larcher before an evening meeting with the parliamentarians of the presidential camp, rather disappointed by the use of 49.3. A president who therefore wants to hear the majority, assures his entourage.
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