France: sharp increase in alcohol consumption at the refreshment bar of the National Assembly
Left-wing deputies leaving the National Assembly shortly after midnight on the night of February 17 to 18, at the end of the first reading of the pension reform bill.
REUTERS - SARAH MEYSSONNIER
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
The twenty days of heated debate around the pension reform have accentuated a trend: the sometimes excessive consumption of alcohol by some deputies.
A situation that could become problematic.
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“
Some people order coupettes from 11 a.m., others have rum at 4 p.m.
This is what a Renaissance deputy confides in
the columns of the
Journal du Dimanche
.
Excesses are frequent, to the point where the question of excessive alcohol consumption was raised during a meeting of the Bureau of the Assembly.
It is up to each parliamentary group to manage its own members, but MPs sometimes blame opponents.
“
The Insoumis will be warmer this evening because they will have gone through the refreshment bar
”, laughs for example an elected macronist at the
JDD
.
While a Nupes deputy promises: “
I see more old Republican deputies who drink than La France Insoumise deputies.
»
Alcohol in the Assembly: Yaël Braun-Pivet asked the group presidents to manage the consumption problems of his deputies, reports the JDD.
Everyone finds excuses (minimization of the problem, "stress", etc.).
Our deputies are (almost) French like the others...
— Nils Wilcke (@paul_denton) February 26, 2023
An unlikely ban
Figured comparisons of alcohol consumption at the bar compared to the last legislature will be presented to the office in early April.
Prohibition of alcohol seems a long way off, but has already happened in other countries.
For ten days, alcoholic beverages have for example disappeared from the Flemish Parliament, in Belgium, where a minister is accused of having forced on the bottle before a debate.
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