The National Assembly on Thursday rejected the idea of a "young RSA" defended by the left to respond to the consequences of the health and economic crisis of Covid on young people, the majority and the right supporting "tailor-made" devices, considered to be more effective.
A bill opening the active solidarity income (RSA) from the age of 18, instead of 25, from the LFI deputy François Ruffin, supported by the Socialists, the Communists and the small group Libertés et Territoires, was rebutted during the meeting plenary session of the National Assembly Thursday, after having already been in the Committee on Social Affairs.
All the speakers recognized the difficulties young people face in the face of the crisis, illustrated in particular by their numerous presence in the queues of food banks.
But two visions clashed, between the granting of a generalized allowance through the opening of the RSA from the age of 18, and more targeted aid accompanied by reinforced support towards training and employment.
"A debt to the youth"
With the crisis "we have a debt towards the youth", launched François Ruffin, by reproaching the government to answer it by a "charity reduced to alms".
Through the young RSA, the rebellious deputy pleaded for a "universal mechanism" rather than the current "maquis" of measures "with holes everywhere".
"Solutions adapted to the course"
The Minister in charge of Integration, Brigitte Klinkert, on the other hand criticized the RSA extension project for being "ineffective and counterproductive".
"We do not want a uniform solution but solutions adapted to the course, to the profile and to the difficulties of each one", she pleaded.
Brigitte Klinkert highlighted the 9 billion euros released for the panoply of measures of the "one young person, one solution" plan.
She is committed to strengthening it to "build comprehensive support open to all young people without a solution".
Already, "a million and a half young people hired, 500,000 signed apprenticeship contracts, this is not bogus, these are indisputable results," she replied to François Ruffin.
The bill was examined within the framework of a so-called "niche" day, reserved for texts of the LFI group.
According to information from Europe 1, the President of the Republic will also announce in the coming weeks the granting of aid of 500 euros per month for those under 25 who have no job or training.