The free trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and the Mercosur countries (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia) was included in farmers' demonstrations and will soon be in the National Assembly . The government has requested the organization of a debate within the framework of article 50-1 of the Constitution, followed by a vote, scheduled for Tuesday November 26. The result is in no doubt as the agreement is rejected by almost all benches. First scheduled for December 10, the debate will finally take place two weeks earlier, for fear that the agreement will not be signed by then. The official signing of the treaty could take place during the Mercosur summit, scheduled for December 5-7, in Montevideo, Uruguay.
La France insoumise (LFI) was quick to pull the plug. The group recalled having put on the agenda of its parliamentary “niche”, on November 28, a proposed resolution “inviting the government to refuse ratification” of the trade agreement. But, considered as a “injunction” to the government, the motion for a resolution was deemed inadmissible.
Sunday, on France 3, the leader of LFI, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, requested the organization of a vote in the Assembly. So, thank you Michel Barnier? “I don’t say thank you, I say victory!” »proclaimed, Tuesday, Mathilde Panot (Val-de-Marne), the president of the “rebellious” group, after having learned of the Prime Minister's desire to make a declaration to the National Assembly, followed by a debate and of a vote.
Symbolic vote
A reading of events contested by the government. This initiative – “requested by Common Core groups and others”we say to Matignon – is described as the continuation of Michel Barnier's listening posture towards deputies and senators. “It is important that Parliament plays its role. With the organization of this democratic debate, he is within his rights”explains the Prime Minister’s entourage.
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The Loire deputy Antoine Vermorel-Marques (Les Républicains, LR) recognizes that it was following the inadmissibility of the “rebellious” resolution proposal that he first had the idea of organizing a vote in the National Assembly on the agreement with Mercosur. At the beginning of November, he submitted it to Michel Barnier, to whom he is close, and exhibited it publicly in L’OpinionNovember 15th.
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Article 50-1, introduced during the constitutional reform of 2008, offers a clever means for the government to make a declaration on a specific subject giving rise to a debate, or even a vote, without incurring responsibility. A vote is not even obligatory and remains quite symbolic. Often, the government only asks for a vote when it knows it will win. Even when he knows that he can drive a tactical wedge into the oppositions: this was the case on March 12, during a debate which saw the left divided on the question of France's military aid to the 'Ukraine.
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