Paris (AFP)

The Senate with a right-wing majority voted on Wednesday at first reading of the social debt bills, which strongly widen the "hole in the Safely" after the coronavirus and act the creation of a 5th branch "autonomy", part fiercely debated .

The left voted against, believing that it is up to the State, not Social Security, to bear the burden of the "exceptional" debt resulting from the Covid-19 epidemic.

With these two texts (organic and ordinary), voted in mid-June at first reading by deputies, the government intends to ratify the addition of 136 billion euros of debt to the "hole of the Safely" and to lay down the principle of a new branch devoted to loss of autonomy.

Two "short texts but fraught with challenges", according to the Senate rapporteur Jean-Marie Vanlerenberghe (centrist).

Deputies and senators will try to agree on a common text in joint joint committee. In the event of failure, a new reading will be organized in the two chambers, the National Assembly having the final say.

The senators accepted the transfer to the Social Depreciation Fund (Cades) of past and future deficits of Social Security, until the financial year 2023, for a maximum amount of 123 billion euros. But they rejected the transfer of the debt of the hospitals (for 13 billion euros), believing that the State should assume the burden because it was a "mainly real estate" debt.

For the Secretary of State to the Minister of Health Adrien Taquet, this deletion "deprives hospitals of a breath of air (...) which was very much expected".

- "On the fly" -

The senators also wanted to establish a "golden rule" which would frame future laws on Social Security funding. From 2025, each of these laws should thus ensure a balance of Social Security accounts over five years.

This provision was challenged by the majority-communist group CRCE, for which it would inscribe "austerity in stone". The government also expressed its opposition, Mr. Taquet deeming "the virtuous but premature rule".

In terms of autonomy, the creation of a 5th branch of Social Security has caused debate, dividing the right and the left.

"We are laying the first stone" of an "expected" reform, said Mr. Taquet, recalling that "in 2040, almost 15% of French people, or 10.6 million people, would be 75 years or older".

The Senate validated the principle of its creation, rejecting an amendment by Jean-Noël Cardoux (LR) which aimed to postpone it. It was rejected by 156 votes "for" (LR and CRCE with a communist majority), against 179 votes "against" (PS, centrists, RDSE with radical majority, LREM, Independents).

"Our group is not opposed to the creation of a 5th risk", underlined Mr. Cardoux, estimating however that "we do not pass like that, on the sly, something that we have been waiting for decades ".

"What we want is for there to be a real autonomy law", also said the chairman of the Social Affairs committee Alain Milon (LR). "We don't want it to be an empty shell."

Recognizing by the voice of Olivier Henno that "the form is somewhat unsatisfactory", the centrists wished to act "a proposal which is so awaited".

On the left, the PS "historically favorable" to the creation of a 5th branch, nevertheless wondered about its financing, while the group CRCE, "not favorable", denounced "a coup de com 'of the government".

"It is not a question of doing things in a hurry, but step by step", underlined Mr. Taquet, recalling that the financing would be treated in the budget proposal of the Social Security and that "the concertation has already been launched on financing and governance ".

The Minister of Health Olivier Véran promised the Assembly "at least one billion euros" more to finance the loss of autonomy of the elderly and disabled in the next budget of the Social Security.

© 2020 AFP