the National Assembly largely rejects the free trade treaty

The National Assembly approved, Tuesday evening, the declaration of the government which opposes the signing of the free trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur (the common market of five Latin American countries), in its current version. 484 votes for the declaration and 70 against. The government did not obtain the unanimity it hoped for.

It was La France insoumise (LFI) which failed. LFI deputies voted against the declaration, believing that the government was not opposed to the treaty “as is”. “There is no good Mercosur agreement possible”asserted Arnaud Le Gall (LFI, Val-d’Oise). In fact, the Minister of Agriculture, Annie Genevard, and that of Foreign Trade, Sophie Primas, have not defended an anti-free trade position. Like the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister, they hope for the inclusion of mirror clauses in the draft agreement, that is to say imposing on Mercosur producers the same standards as those to which European producers are subject.

As expected, in the substantive debate, everyone remained in their positions: the left opposing on social and environmental issues; the extreme right, for mainly sovereignist reasons; the presidential coalition, although opposed to this agreement, insisted on not rejecting free trade in principle.

“We want to fight this battle with you!” »

But that was not the issue of the day. Michel Barnier wanted, on Tuesday, to be able to count on the most unanimous vote possible from the National Assembly in order to give weight to the position of France, until then rather isolated within the European Union. The two ministers spared no effort in this regard: “We want to fight this battle with you!” That’s the whole point of tonight’s vote”launched the Minister of Agriculture. « Your constant mobilization has already made an impression and it must continue with force. You are, with us, the key players in this fight towards your counterparts from all European countries and of all sensitivities”added the Minister of Foreign Trade.

The left has remained very suspicious of a government whose sincerity it doubts. “I am not convinced that France will go so far as to block this agreement. Is she ready to use her right of veto in the European Council? »asked the president of the communist deputies, André Chassaigne (Puy-de-Dôme). The socialist deputy for Finistère Mélanie Thomin simply asked a few rhetorical questions: “Are we just getting together to make up the numbers? Is this a real democratic exercise of coming together against Mercosur or are we the guarantor of a government in need of a majority? »

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