Deprived of voting on a proposal to cancel retirement at 64, the oppositions will make their anger heard, Thursday, June 8, against the presidential camp, accused of anti-democratic drifts, during an end game that promises to be electric at the National Assembly.

MEPs will be able to examine the bill to repeal the Freedoms, Independents, Overseas and Territories (Liot) group, from 9 a.m. in the hemicycle. But emptied of its flagship measure, which had kept the flame of opponents of the pension reform despite its promulgation in mid-April.

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Unsurprisingly, the President of the Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, brandished Wednesday Article 40 of the Constitution, which prohibits any parliamentary proposal creating a burden on public finances.

"I apply the rule, nothing but the rule," justified the holder of the perch, who declared "inadmissible" amendments restoring the retirement age to 62 years, which were to be examined Thursday in plenary session.

The measure was first torpedoed in committee in a close vote, then reintroduced via these amendments. The left and Liot were hopeful of reversing the balance of power in the hemicycle, with the support of the National Rally (RN) and some deputies Les Républicains (LR).

"They are paving the way for illiberal democracy"

By blocking their examination, Yaël Braun-Pivet, from the Macronist ranks, "failed in his charge", thundered Wednesday Bertrand Pancher, the boss of the Liot deputies. Unable to vote on a repeal, "we will take public opinion as witnesses" from the hemicycle on Thursday, he promised, suggesting a stormy session.

The Socialists want there to be a minimum vote on the only amendment related to the 64-year-olds who have passed the Article 40 filter, even if it only asks for a report. "MEPs who vote for this amendment will express their rejection of the reform," they said.

Beyond pensions, the oppositions will take advantage of the platform to broaden their challenge to that of the exercise of power by the presidential camp. From the use of 49.3 to that of Article 40, they accuse him of having flouted Parliament to pass its highly contested reform.

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On the far right, Marine Le Pen expressed concern about a "drift towards anti-parliamentarianism".

"They are paving the way for an illiberal democracy," said the boss of the socialist deputies Boris Vallaud, while his communist counterpart, André Chassaigne, evoked "a democracy that tomorrow can open to a dictatorship".

The leader of the Insoumis, Mathilde Panot, considered "unacceptable that we can make such a coup without there being a reaction behind", announcing her wish to table a motion of censure.

But she did not give a date for this initiative, which has yet to be discussed between the partners of the Nupes. Some are reluctant, as is the Liot group, whose motion narrowly failed in March.

Possible withdrawal of text

Even adopted by the Assembly, the proposal to repeal would have had little chance of succeeding at the legislative level, the Macronists have constantly argued. While worrying about the political signal that would have been sent by a victory of the oppositions.

With the end of this parliamentary sequence, two days after a 14th day of social mobilization whose participation was the lowest recorded in five months of demonstrations, the executive hopes to be able to turn the page on pensions.

" READ ALSO "Not resigned": in Paris, the demonstrators still say no to the pension reform

After the "general discussion" on Thursday morning on its repeal bill, it is likely that the Liot group will withdraw its text before even proceeding to the examination of what remains of it, said a source within the group.

The aim is to give some of the other six texts that the group has prepared for its "parliamentary niche" a chance to be debated, while this reserved day will have to end whatever happens at midnight.

The second place aims to increase the revenue from the Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) by involving the financial sector. Another, carried by the deputy of Guadeloupe Olivier Serva, concerns the Overseas. In particular, it proposes to extend existing mobility assistance schemes to workers in these territories.

With AFP

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