The government was opposed to the adoption of this bill by the socialist parliamentarian Philippe Brun.
Against the advice of the government, the National Assembly adopted Thursday, May 4 in second reading a text for “protect EDF from dismemberment”, which also intends to increase the number of companies and communities benefiting from regulated electricity tariffs. In a tense atmosphere, the bill, carried by the left and supported by right and RN, was validated by 127 votes against 89, and one abstention.
The ballot was held after long hours of debate and a series of adjournments, perceived by the left as so many “manoeuvres” and attempts to“obstruction” from the presidential camp. The text had already been adopted for the first time by the Assembly and then the Senate. However, the upper chamber had deleted its article 1, which was to make it possible to enshrine in law the “nationalization of EDF”. “The word no longer appears there but that changes absolutely nothing”said Thursday the PS deputy Philippe Brun, author of the text examined during a “niche” of the communist group.
The minimum opening of EDF’s capital to employees
The Senate, dominated by the right, on the other hand, proposed to fix in law the fact that EDF is a limited company “of national interest”, whose capital is “100% owned by the State”, which the Assembly retained. By an amendment from Philippe Brun, however, it is planned to open up at least “1.50%” of the capital to employees and certain former employees.
The government argues that it is already leading a nationalization of EDF, the state holding at this stage “96% of the capital”, according to the Minister of Industry Roland Lescure. The takeover bid must be finalized, after a favorable decision by the Paris Court of Appeal on Tuesday. Philippe Brun, like his communist co-rapporteur Sébastien Jumel, also insisted on including in the law a list of “assignments” provided by EDF: production, transport, distribution… Their goal: to prevent the executive from resuscitating “Hercules”, a controversial restructuring project. The parliamentary shuttle must continue with the Senate, and the left hopes for a conforming vote quickly.
Assembly official suffers heart attack during night sitting
After this vote, the night session in the National Assembly was interrupted after a heart attack of an official of the institution. The emergency services intervened around 11:00 p.m. in the very hemicycle of the Palais Bourbon where this person was, noted AFP.
Shortly after midnight, the President of the National Assembly confirmed that the official had been revived thanks to two deputies, one a doctor and the other a firefighter. “We hope she can recover better health and return to us”, said Yaël Braun-Pivet. His condition was “stabilized” and she was “evacuated to a hospital”.