49.3 could save Assembly time. According to Richard Ferrand, Thursday morning, "36,476 amendments were still under discussion". The calculation is quickly made by the President of the National Assembly: "with an examination rate of 22.2 (amendments) per hour, 1,643 sitting hours will be necessary to complete the ordinary law alone, or 150 sitting days" . The majority, for its part, want to pass this pension reform bill within three weeks, a mission almost impossible given the number of amendments that remain to be examined.
"Democracy is taken hostage by about fifteen deputies", confides a close friend of Edouard Philippe to the microphone of Europe 1. The latter recognizes that, given the situation, the use of 49.3 for the pension reform project is on the table today. This article of the constitution allows the government to pass a bill without a vote.
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"Parliamentary LBD"
For the opponent Adrien Quatennens, MP for France Insoumise, the majority is getting impatient in the face of an opposition "which defends its positions step by step". The government is preparing to use what MP Insoumis describes with his friends as "parliamentary LBD", namely 49.3. According to him, if the government decides to use this famous article of the constitution, it will sign "the death warrant of the Republic on the march".
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"The lines have moved"
49.3 is however an idea being considered up to the Elysée. "The lines have moved, recognizes the entourage of the president, the question is now 'when do we do it?'". Within the majority, such a weapon can only pass with the support of the deputies, faced with too many amendments. Some say they are already ready, at the risk of falling into a political trap. But in the eyes of the public, who has the most to lose from the use of 49.3? The opposition that is flooding the parliament with amendments, or the government that will be accused of going into force?