The President of the Senate, Gérard Larcher, in Paris on July 2, 2020. -

Jacques Witt / SIPA

Following the results of the senatorial elections on Sunday, consolidating the majority of the right and the center, we know that the match is folded in advance.

Barring a huge surprise, Gérard Larcher is preparing to be reelected on Thursday hands down for a 4th term as president of the upper house.

An environmentalist could introduce himself

The outgoing president, designated Wednesday's candidate for the Les Républicains group, should win in the first round for this third consecutive term.

He will face at least two candidates on the left, the leaders of the Communist-majority PS and CRCE groups, Patrick Kanner and Eliane Assassi.

The president of the “Ecologist, Solidarity and Territories” Group, Guillaume Gontard, did not rule out an application either, seeing it as “a symbolic act” to “support the existence” of the new green group, made up of 12 elected officials.

The new president of the Senate will be elected by a secret ballot vote in the gallery, under the chairmanship of the oldest member, the centrist Jean-Marie Vanlerenberghe, 81 years old.

He will be assisted by six secretaries, the six youngest senators, including the youngest Rémi Cardon (PS), who at 26 is the youngest elected to the Senate under the Fifth Republic.

Some 79 newly elected

Of the 348 senators, 79 newly elected, out of the 172 seats put into play last Sunday, will enter for the first time in the hemicycle of the Palais du Luxembourg.

Very strict health measures have been put in place due to the Covid-19 epidemic, including the wearing of compulsory masks, and voting operations could thus be slowed down.

The traditional official photo of the Senate in the hemicycle is no longer on the program.

In conquered ground, Gérard Larcher nevertheless sent his colleagues “a project” which takes stock of his action and sets out the objectives for the next three-year term.

He repeats his mantra: "In the Senate, we never say yes out of discipline, never no out of dogmatism."

The senator from Yvelines reaffirms his will that the Senate "participate in a rebalancing of powers for the benefit of communities".

Within the institution, he wishes to continue "the process of modernization" of the procedures for making the law.

The government "must take its part" in this improvement, according to him, suggesting to submit the amendments tabled by the government to a "deadline", which is not currently the case.

Start of work on October 13

The Senate will not resume its legislative work in the Chamber until October 13, with a provisional program that promises to be loaded before the essentials of the finance bill and the Social Security budget, but also the bill " zero long-term unemployed ”, the bill extending the exit regime from the state of health emergency, the research bill… Until then, the institution will still have to finish putting itself in working order, with next Tuesday the constitution of its final Bureau and Wednesday that of the offices of the various commissions.

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  • Gerard Larcher

  • Senate

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