The Social Affairs Committee, which meets on Tuesday afternoon, will ask to be granted the prerogatives of a commission of inquiry.

The request should be acted on Tuesday evening by the conference of presidents of the Senate.

The authorities launched last week a “vast control operation” of Orpea, with the opening of a “double investigation” administrative entrusted to the general inspections of social affairs (Igas) and finances (IGF).

"Our committee could devote work to a + control of control +", wrote the president of the Senate Social Affairs Committee, Catherine Deroche (LR), in a letter to the members of the committee's office dated Friday.

"Without duplicating the investigative work entrusted to the control bodies, the commission could ensure the transparency of the procedures for carrying out the investigations entrusted to Igas and the IGF (...). The commission could thus ensure , once the legitimate emotion aroused by the publication of Mr. Victor Castanet's work has dissipated, of the proper execution of the control missions but also of their legislative, regulatory or budgetary translations", developed Ms. Deroche.

Senator LR Bernard Bonne is expected to be rapporteur for this work.

The National Assembly's Social Affairs Committee did not set itself up as a commission of inquiry, despite requests from the opposition.

Its members heard the CEO of the retirement home giant Philippe Charrier last week and are preparing to audition on Wednesday the director general of the Île de France regional health agency, Amélie Verdier, and Mr. Castanet.

A parliamentary commission of inquiry has very significant powers.

The people she summons for a hearing have the obligation to present themselves, they testify under oath.

It may also require the communication of certain documents.

Refusal to cooperate and false testimony are subject to criminal penalties.

Orpea is one of the world's leading players in dependency care, with a network of 1,156 establishments for vulnerable people.

In "Les Fossoyeurs", journalist Victor Castanet describes the rationing of medical supplies and food in establishments with very high prices, chronic mistreatment of residents, financial targets imposed on departments closely controlled by headquarters.

Accusations that the group refutes en bloc.

© 2022 AFP