Paris (AFP)
Deputies and senators failed Thursday evening to reach an agreement on the bill extending the state of health emergency in the face of the Covid-19 epidemic, the Senate calling for a vote of Parliament in the event of prolonged confinement beyond 'a month.
Consequently, a new reading of the bill will take place on Tuesday in the National Assembly, then on Thursday in the Senate, with a view to final adoption before February 16, the current date of end of application of this exceptional regime.
The Senate, dominated by the right-wing opposition, gave the green light Wednesday at first reading to an extension of the state of health emergency until May 3, one month less than the deadline voted by the Assembly national (June 1).
While the threat of a third confinement looms, the Senate had also asked that a generalized confinement can be extended beyond a month "only if the law allows it".
"The government and its majority refuse it, preferring to rely on a government statement followed by a debate at the end of which a vote could be organized or not. This vote (scheduled for next week, editor's note) would not be authorization, "the Senate Law Commission said in a statement.
The confinement "is an attack on individual and collective freedoms in the name of health, and naturally this type of decision can only be made under the control of Parliament", insisted Friday on LCI President LR of the Senate Gérard Larcher.
Mr. Larcher confirmed that Prime Minister Jean Castex had committed Thursday, before the group presidents of the Senate, "for a debate with a vote" on the new measures expected to curb the Covid-19 epidemic.
This debate according to article 50-1 of the Constitution is not, however, binding.
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