Has Michel Barnier finally found the formula to create a bond between the parliamentarians of the “common base”? After the aperitif buffets of the minister responsible for relations with Parliament, Nathalie Delattre, and the transpartisan breakfasts of the government spokesperson, Maud Bregeon, the Prime Minister is preparing to bring together in an intergroup, committee by committee, the deputies from the four parties that support his government. Wednesday, November 13, elected officials from the Economic Affairs Committee from Ensemble pour la République (EPR, Renaissance group), MoDem, Horizons and the Republican Right (Les Républicains, LR party group), inaugurate the series of meetings with a first breakfast around the tenant of Rue de Varenne.
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The initiative comes as the heated debates on the budget highlight the divisions of the “common base”, the allies of circumstance of his government coalition, and fuel criticism against the head of government. “Being on the benches of the Assembly? For what, fulminates the deputy (Renaissance) for Moselle Ludovic Mendès. We discovered the text of the budget like that, then, when we are worried, we don't have the impression of being listened to… It's the method that is wrong. »
This demobilization is reflected in symbolic defeats, the most visible of which was the approval on Monday, November 4, in a public session, of the revenue component of the Social Security financing bill (PLFSS), largely rewritten by the left. With in particular a victory for the elected representatives of the New Popular Front on pension reform. Rebelote Friday November 8: the National Assembly once again adopted an anthology of taxes (penalty for noisy two-wheelers, tax on share buybacks, etc.) under the leadership of the left and the National Rally and against the government opinion.
“Turn the other cheek”
“Under the guise of letting the debate take place, we are giving a formidable platform to our oppositions. Is it necessary to take a slap then turn the other cheek? », blames the deputy (Renaissance) of Oise Eric Woerth, irritated, like most of his colleagues, that the Prime Minister has not so far had recourse to article 49.3 of the Constitution (which allows the adoption of a text without a vote) to end the debates.
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In Matignon, we are protesting against this trial carried out using the Barnier method, accused of not intervening sufficiently to avoid the cacophony which reigns in the National Assembly. And for not working hard enough to solidify its relative majority. His entourage retorts that the Prime Minister has attended, at least, one meeting of each “common core” group in recent weeks. And he meets the presidents of the groups who support him every week at Matignon, we insist.
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