The legal battle is launched against the Liot proposal to repeal the pension reform

The legal battle is underway against the bill to repeal the pension reform. On Tuesday, the presidency of the embly’s Social Affairs Committee asked that of Finance to rule on the possible inadmissibility of the text. This referral should only be the prelude to a more heavy fire from the presidential majority against the proposal from the Freedoms, Independents, Overseas and Territories (Liot) group which will be examined in the Social Affairs Committee next week.

“Several colleagues, who fear [que la proposition] does not translate into an increase in public charges of several billion euros […] expresses their questions as to its compliance with the provisions of Article 40 of the Constitution”, writes Renaissance MP Fadila Khattabi, in a letter of a few lines addressed to the chairman of the Finance Committee, LFI MP Eric Coquerel.

The embarred majority

After the promulgation of the pension reform in April, the presidential majority is embarred by the prospect new fiery debates at the Palais-Bourbon. Given its relative majority and the division of the right in the hemicycle, the presidential camp fears to see the repeal adopted on June 8 by the deputies.

Hence the attacks by the government and parliamentarians on its side against a text which would be contrary to Article 40 of the Constitution, because it would aggravate “public charges”. “If ever Eric Coquerel refused to admit that this PPL does not respect article 40, it would be a very big political fault and a serious precedent in the Ve Republic, ures Renaissance deputy Jean-René Cazeneuve. It would be the first time that a Chairman of the Finance Committee does not respect the Constitution and that would raise questions about his credibility. »

Despite these ertions, the government camp has little chance of succeeding in the immediate future. To avoid limiting parliamentary initiatives too much, it is indeed accepted that bills are discussed even if article 40 may apply. Moreover, Eric Coquerel is rather inclined to consider the text as admissible. “I will look for elements so that the debate can continue, and I think I have leads on the case law or on the compensation given by the law which goes in this direction”, affirms the elected LFI.

People expected in committee

As rapporteur for the Finance Committee, Jean-René Cazeneuve has clearly argued that he also had his say on inadmissibility, but it seems unlikely that his opinion will prevail over that of Eric Coquerel. Especially since the presidency of the National embly is not the arbiter of the debates within the Finance Committee.

So many elements that mean that the majority could postpone its efforts on the debates in committee next Wednesday to derail the repeal project. “I think there will be a lot of people that day,” said a parliamentary collaborator.

No obstruction

The amendments tabled in committee on the text of three articles are not yet known. “There will be serious amendments, no obstruction,” ures Horizons MP Frédéric Valletoux. At this stage, discretion seems to be in order regarding the content and the number of amendments tabled.

However, the government camp, with a smaller embly in committee than in public session, could aim for the deletion of Article 1 to draw a line under the repeal project. What put a spoke in the wheels of the opposition since the text submitted for examination in public session is that adopted in committee.

The opposition could redeposit amendments to propose returning to the repeal of the postponement of the legal age from 62 to 64 years. Still, these amendments would have to be deemed admissible under Article 40. It would be up to the President of the embly to decide in case of doubt. “There we would be in the normal functioning of parliamentary procedure”, underlines a deputy of the majority. In other words, inadmissibility would have a better chance of being admitted.

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