The Senate dominated by the right-wing opposition voted on Friday by show of hands, at first reading, to extend the state of health emergency, limiting it to January 31 -

NICOLAS MESSYASZ / SIPA

Mostly right-wing, the Senate went against the advice of the government.

This Friday, the upper house of Parliament voted by show of hands, at first reading, to extend the state of health emergency, limiting it to January 31, while the government wants its extension until February 16.

Contrary to what the government recommended, the Senate also abolished the extension of the exit regime from the state of health emergency until April 1, 2021, deemed "unnecessary".

The senators then provided for a control of Parliament on the implementation of a containment measure.

A re-containment authorized beyond December 8 only by law

The Senate unanimously voted for an amendment by rapporteur Philippe Bas (LR) providing that the re-containment, which entered into force on Friday, could only be authorized beyond December 8 by law.

Deputies, who voted for the text at first reading last Saturday, and senators will try to agree on a common text on Friday.

In case of failure, a new reading will be organized next week in each of the rooms.

The National Assembly, dominated by the presidential majority, having the last word, could then restore the text as it wishes.

The rights of the French "questioned"

"The more the rights of the French are called into question, the more Parliament must be there to control the powers which are implemented by the government", underlined Thursday the rapporteur of the text in the Senate Philippe Bas (LR).

On the left, the CRCE groups with a communist and environmentalist majority voted against the bill, which "gives too much power to the executive by lowering the rights of Parliament", according to Eliane Assassi, leader of the CRCE senators.

The PS chose abstention.

Even if the text has been "considerably improved" by the Senate, it still lacks a social component, said Marie-Pierre de La Gontrie.

The majority RDPI group En Marche also abstained.

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  • Covid 19

  • Confinement

  • Health

  • Coronavirus

  • Senate

  • Government

  • Emergency state

  • Parliament