The deputies of the independent group Liot announced the tabling, in the National Assembly, of a motion of censure co-signed by elected officials from Nupes in response to the triggering of 49.3 by Elisabeth Borne to have the pension reform adopted. A second motion of censure was tabled in the wake of the National Rally.
The government of Elisabeth Borne will therefore have to deal with two motions of censure tabled in the Assembly after the government’s recourse to 49.3 on the pension reform. The first, transpartisan, is co-signed by deputies from the independent group Libertés, Independants, Overseas and Territories (Liot) and the four groups belonging to Nupes. The second was filed in stride only by the National Rally (RN – far right). Both of these motions will likely be considered on Monday, March 20.
The main question of this new parliamentary episode is who will vote in favor of these motions. And can we envisage that a motion of censure brings together enough deputies to bring down the government?
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, questioned on France Inter on March 17, indicated that rebellious France was going to support the transpartisan censure motion of the Liot group in the National Assembly. The latter is more likely to be voted on by right-wing MPs unfavorable to pension reform. It will therefore be closely monitored by the executive. The bar of an absolute majority will no doubt be difficult to achieve.
What course of action for LR deputies?
For the moment, no deputy Les Républicains (LR) has signed the motion of censure, said the Liot group. The president of the Republicans, Éric Ciotti, affirmed, Thursday March 16, that the group would not join or vote for any motion, but certain LR deputies said they wanted to be free to vote. Their course of action will therefore be closely scrutinized. And in particular that of Aurélien Pradié, “rebel” LR deputy from Lot, opposed to the reform. Will he be in a position of opposition to the line of his group?
Meanwhile, in the street, punch actions and demonstrations are underway in many cities in France.
► To read also: Pension reform: 49.3 triggers anger and weakens Elisabeth Borne