Paris (AFP)

Article 49-3 of the Constitution, which Edouard Philippe took up on Saturday to have the pension reform adopted, has been used by many Prime Ministers since Michel Rocard, champion in the matter.

Jean-Marc Ayrault (2012-2014) and François Fillon (2007-2012) have never used it, however. Similarly, Lionel Jospin (1997-2002), during cohabitation with Jacques Chirac, never appealed to this provision which allows a bill to be adopted without a vote, if no motion of censure is voted against government by the National Assembly.

In most cases where article 49-3 has been used, the opposition has tabled a motion of censure, each time rejected.

- Michel Rocard (May 1988-May 1991)

In the absence of an absolute majority in Parliament, Michel Rocard engaged his responsibility 28 times via article 49-3 at the start of François Mitterrand's second seven-year term. Fifteen texts were thus adopted, notably the law creating the Superior Audiovisual Council, the reform of the statute of the Régie Renault and the military programming law 1990-1993.

- Edith Cresson (May 1991-April 1992) -

It made use of 49-3 eight times to force through four bills, including the 1992 budget and the creation of the Medicines Agency.

- Pierre Bérégovoy (April 1992-March 1993) -

The last Socialist Prime Minister of François Mitterrand uses three times the article, on the control of health expenditure, the 1993 budget, the Old Age Solidarity Fund.

- Edouard Balladur (March 1993-May 1995) -

Having an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly, during the second cohabitation between the right and François Mitterrand, he draws article 49-3 only once, on the privatizations of public enterprises, to cut short "parliamentary obstruction" carried out, according to him, by the opposition, which tabled some 3,800 amendments.

- Alain Juppé (May 1995-June 1997) -

The Prime Minister of Jacques Chirac twice uses article 49-3: in December 1995 to pass the bill authorizing him to legislate by ordinances to reform social protection, then in June 1996 to have the bill on the statute of France Telecom, before the end of the parliamentary session.

- Jean-Pierre Raffarin (May 2002-May 2005) -

Prime Minister after the re-election of Jacques Chirac, he seized article 49-3 twice. While the left and the UDF tabled some 13,000 amendments to its reform of the regional and European voting systems, it decided for the first time on February 15, 2003 to engage the responsibility of its government.

On July 27, 2004, Mr. Raffarin again used 49-3 for the bill relating to local freedoms and responsibilities which promotes decentralization.

- Dominique de Villepin (May 2005 - May 2007) -

On February 9, 2006, Dominique de Villepin used 49-3 to pass the Equal Opportunities Bill, which included the much-contested First Hiring Contract (CPE). The bill will be adopted, but the massive mobilization of the street will eventually sign the death of the youth worker, who will be repealed.

- Manuel Valls (March 2014 - December 2016) -

On February 17, 2015, Manuel Valls uses 49-3 to give first reading the bill of Emmanuel Macron, then Minister of the Economy, "for growth and activity", facing the expected opposition of PS deputies, hostile in particular to the extension of the opening of shops on Sundays.

A motion of censure tabled by the UMP and the UDI is rejected.

On June 16 and July 9, new recourse to 49-3 for the same text, without motion of censure in the second case. The text will be definitively adopted.

On May 10, 2016, Mr. Valls again uses 49-3 for the adoption without vote at first reading of the labor law defended by Myriam El Khomri, which pushes 56 majority deputies to try in vain to deposit a new censure motion against government - they lack two votes. That deposited by the right is retoquée on May 12.

On July 5, the Prime Minister again engages the responsibility of his government.

On July 20, he launched a third and final 49-3 for the final adoption, without vote, of the labor bill.

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