Unsurprisingly, the National Assembly on Monday, October 31 largely rejected the motion of censure against a “government deaf to calls for change made by legislative elections”, supported by the National Rally (RN). The motion garnered 90 votes, far short of the 289 needed.
Another motion of censure, carried by insubordinate France (LFI), which denounced “a sham of parliamentary democracy”, was also voted on, then rejected. Only 218 deputies voted in favor. Among them, deputies from the National Rally, who had announced earlier in the day that they would vote in favor, like a week ago.
The rejection of the motions of censure led to the adoption of the entire Social Security financing bill (PLFSS) at first reading. The latter will therefore be examined in the Senate from Wednesday in committee, then Monday, November 7 in session.
Reply to 49.3
RN and LFI had tabled these motions to respond to the triggering on Wednesday evening by Elisabeth Borne of article 49.3 of the Constitution, which aims to have the entire Social Security financing bill adopted without a vote. The opposition criticizes the executive for triggering this constitutional tool to interrupt exchanges before tackling sensitive subjects – medical deserts, community funding – and above all for not retaining amendments adopted against its opinion.
The executive, for its part, justifies the third recourse to 49.3 by the Prime Minister, Elisabet Borne, by the constitutional deadlines for examination, considering it delayed by the numerous amendments of the oppositions.
Precedents
Last Monday, three motions of censure had already been rejected. One of them, carried by the whole of Nupes, had also been voted by the RN group, but fifty votes were missing to reach an absolute majority. This rallying of the extreme right caused unease in the ranks of Nupes and an avalanche of attacks from the presidential camp, despising a « collusion ».
The LFI group had this time chosen to go it alone for the filing of its motion, its socialist, communist and environmentalist allies arguing for a different strategic approach so as not to “trivialize” these attempts to overthrow the government.