2024-02-05 14:55:32
Gabriel Attal, during an exchange with the Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, at the National Assembly in Paris, February 5, 2024. THOMAS SAMSON / AFP
Relaxed, Gabriel Attal enters the hemicycle of the Palais-Bourbon when facing his first motion of censure, Monday February 5. With a smile on his lips, the tenant of Matignon kisses one by one the ten or so members of the government present for the occasion: Rachida Dati (culture), Marc Fesneau (agriculture), Marie Lebec (Parliament), Christophe Béchu (ecology), Amélie Oudéa-Castéra (education) or Gérald Darmanin (interior)…
The Prime Minister does not need to overplay serenity. The benches of the Republicans (LR) and those of the National Rally (RN) are empty. The two parties had already announced that they did not want to add their voices to those of the deputies of the four left-wing groups, who tabled this motion of censure. In the end, it only received 124 votes – the left not even having had its fill of votes. Far from the 289 votes needed to bring down the government.
“I will never be intimidated by preventive motions of censure”, declared the head of government in front of around fifty deputies. The latter accused the left, and in particular La France insoumise (LFI), of once again opting for “the permanent blockage” in a now hackneyed parliamentary exercise between the presidential camp and the supporters of Jean-Luc Mélenchon. « As if all that mattered was the little political move, the search for instability or even the promise of obstruction”, mocked the Prime Minister in front of around twenty “rebellious” elected officials. To better showcase his supposed sense of dialogue with “ all parliamentarians »he got involved “to always keep [sa] open door for discussion and search for agreement ». “I undertake to always respect Parliament and the debate of ideas in this chamber”he insisted.
The left is going strong against Attal
These comments aroused distrust within the Libertés, Independents, Overseas and Territories (LIOT) group, which sits in opposition. “This was the promise that was made the day after the legislative elections. It was little or not maintained by your predecessor”, reminded him Stéphane Lenormand, MP for Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon. Without an absolute majority, Elisabeth Borne had in fact used article 49.3 of the Constitution twenty-three times, which allows a text to be adopted without a vote. Mr. Attal has already indicated during his general policy speech on January 30, his wish to use the regulatory route for the next reforms, like state medical aid. or the regularization of foreign doctors. This method arouses concern among parliamentarians who fear being reduced to making up the numbers in the months to come.
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