This surprise registration, while the executive has long procrastinated on this extension from 12 to 14 weeks, will allow the text to continue its parliamentary progress and pave the way for adoption by the end of the term of office.

The question arose of the future of a text that no senatorial group had been able or wanted to take up to continue the back and forth between the two chambers.

"This is one more step in the progressive assessment of the five-year term", welcomed the entourage of the boss of LREM deputies Christophe Castaner, deemed to "hold very strongly" to the adoption of this bill (PPL) initially carried by an opposition member, the ecologist Albane Gaillot (ex-LREM, non-registered).

The text had been adopted, slightly amended on the night of Tuesday to last Wednesday, in second reading in the National Assembly under the leadership of Mr. Castaner.

Represented on the bench by the Minister of Health Olivier Véran who, in a personal capacity, said he was in favor of this extension of the term, the government had issued a "wisdom opinion" on all the provisions of the text, leaving the Assembly freely decide on the vote.

"I am happy that the government understood its responsibility and the importance for all women to register in the Senate this bill adopted twice by the National Assembly and thus to allow it to continue the parliamentary shuttle", reacted to AFP, Mme Gaillot.

Nothing was taken for granted, however, for Ms. Gaillot's PPL as it was the subject of contradictory signals within the executive.

The reluctance expressed twice by the Head of State seemed to sign the end of the progress of this text, which bristles pro-life circles but has received the support of several associations and movements in favor of women's rights.

The leader of LREM deputies, Christophe Castaner, September 8, 2021 GUILLAUME SOUVANT AFP / Archives

Double conscience clause

"I have not changed my mind. Additional delays are not neutral on the trauma of a woman," said the head of state ten days ago according to comments reported by Le Figaro while the president was on his way to meet the pope in the Vatican.

Mr. Macron had however left a door ajar by adding: "afterwards, I respect the freedom of parliamentarians".

"The government had asked for a wise opinion. It allows the text to continue its progress in Parliament", one noted in the entourage of Christophe Castaner.

The government would thus neither turn around nor step aside from the narrow path traced by Emmanuel Macron.

"The government is not deaf to the signals sent to it by deputies, contrary to what is often said," noted a government source.

In addition to the LREM deputies, the exit last week of the boss of the "walkers" in the Senate, François Patriat, who had refused to include the text in his parliamentary niche scheduled for January 12, also had to weigh in the balance.

The senator from Côte d'Or had finally declared that he wanted the government to put on the agenda of the High Assembly the bill, which should be the subject of a barrage from a majority right. in the Senate, led by Bruno Retailleau with firmly anchored conservative convictions.

According to parliamentary sources, the choice by the deputies not to remove during the second reading, the double conscience clause which allows doctors to refuse to perform abortion, an initial controversial provision of the text to which Olivier Véran does not was not favorable, would also have made it possible to find favorable arbitrations.

© 2021 AFP