MEPs will be able to examine the bill to repeal the independent group Liot, from 09:00 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.

Unsurprisingly, Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet on Wednesday brandished 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 RN and some LR deputies.

"Democratization"

By blocking their examination, Yaël Braun-Pivet, from the Macronist ranks, "failed in his charge", thundered Wednesday Bertrand Pancher the boss of the deputies Freedoms, Independents, Overseas and Territories (Liot).

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.

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".

Motion of no confidence

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.

The leader of the Insoumis, Mathilde Panot, in Paris on June 6, 2023 © Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP

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.

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.

After the "general discussion" on Thursday morning on his repeal bill, it is likely that Liot will withdraw his text before even proceeding to examine 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.

© 2023 AFP