Paris (AFP)
After heated debates, the Assembly is preparing to vote on Tuesday the ratification of the controversial free trade treaty between the EU and Canada (Ceta), "positive" for the French economy according to its supporters, but bearer of " environmental and health risks according to its opponents.
The text, part of which came into force provisionally almost two years ago, gives rise to reservations even in the LREM-MoDem majority, where at least abstentions could be observed.
On Monday, the former Minister for the Ecological Transition Nicolas Hulot called in an open letter parliamentarians to have "the courage to say no" to this treaty, which in his view could open the door to dangerous substances by a lowering of health standards.
A ratification would go "in the good sense", replied Emmanuel Macron, while reaffirming the need to ensure that it is "well implemented". The head of state stressed that the former minister had "fought to improve" the text of the agreement.
Negotiated for more than seven years, CETA, the CETA, was approved by the European Parliament in February 2017. It must be ratified by the 38 national and regional assemblies of Europe. hence its passage through the Assembly, then to the Senate at a date yet to be defined. Thirteen States, including Spain and the United Kingdom, have already ratified it.
Ceta, which notably removes customs duties on 98% of the products traded between the two zones, is strongly criticized by farmers and NGOs, and oppositions of right and left.
His examination at the Palais Bourbon last Wednesday had given rise to about 10 hours of intense exchanges, late into the night.
While Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian praised an "important agreement" in a "worrying" world climate, the Socialists defended a motion for rejection, rejected by only 136 votes against 110. LR then argued unsuccessfully for an "adjournment" of ratification (134 votes to 116).
Initially, the text was to be submitted to a "simple" vote in the wake of the debates. But after protests from the opposition, the subject will finally result in a public ballot on Tuesday after questions to the government in the afternoon.
- Ceta and Greta at the same time -
On the agenda, this vote will take place during a hearty day in the Assembly, also marked by the visit of the Swedish spokesperson for the fight against climate change Greta Thunberg, which is not welcome in the eyes of some MPs LR and RN.
RN spokesman Sébastien Chenu denounced a "coup de com" on Monday on BFMTV, while "an hour later" the majority "will ask us to vote this treaty with Canada, which is ruining our agriculture."
Julien Aubert (LR), who also taxes the 16-year-old "prophetess in short pants", relayed the double risk pointed by her group on beef: "sanitary" and "destabilization of the beef sector". "To buy at the other end of the world a meat which it is possible to produce oneself", it is "an ecological mistake", it had creaked in the hemicycle.
Several opposition politicians also worried about the importation of meat fed by animal meal prohibited in France.
"Fake news," retorts the chairman of the Commission for Economic Affairs Roland Lescure (LREM), noting that only 36 Canadian farms can export to European standards.
"We will never compromise on the health and quality of food," insisted Secretary of State Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne in an interview with Yonne Republican.
- "Capitulation" -
The IDUs and independents, "overwhelmingly against", evoked "real threats", and "Libertés et Territoires" the "agreement too".
PS, PCF and LFI criticized in unison a text "incompatible with the Paris agreements" and with a "veto" climate "not found".
This treaty "negotiated in the shadows" would allow "possibly industrialists, large Canadian powerful groups, to come challenge what we voted here", denounces the first secretary of PS Olivier Faure. "The precautionary principle is broken," laments Hubert Wulfranc (PCF).
Ceta, "it is the end of our popular sovereignty, the capitulation of the political power", according to the Insoumise Mathilde Panot.
© 2019 AFP