Thursday, November 28, in the middle of a debate on the repeal of the pension reform, the elected official Modem de la Vienne was at the origin of a heated altercation against some of his left-wing colleagues. Bailiffs had to intervene, and the deputy ended up leaving the chamber.
He assures that he remains “at the entire disposal of the office of the National Assembly”. The day after the heated altercation at the Bourbon Palace which he initiated, Modem MP Nicolas Turquois affirmed this Friday, November 29 that he “assume the consequences” of his action.
In a press release, the elected representative of Vienna, who was threatening towards the socialist deputy Mickaël Bouloux and Antoine Léaument (LFI), however, explains that his gesture was motivated by provocations from his left-wing colleagues.
“The arrest of my loved ones made me lose my calm”
“While it is natural for a politically engaged person to be responsible for their positions, it is unacceptable in a democracy for our loved ones to be taken to task because of our commitment. This is what happened to me,” writes -he. He mentions “an altercation (…) with fellow deputies”. “The questioning of my loved ones made me lose my calm,” he explains.
“This behavior, in the same way as the questioning of my loved ones, is not appropriate in a democracy. I ask all of my fellow deputies to kindly apologize,” he adds.
This incident took place the evening before, in the middle of a heated debate on the repeal of the pension reform. Bailiffs had to intervene before the elected official ended up leaving the chamber.
“I was human”
Earlier in the day, this Friday, Nicolas Turquois explained on BFMTV the reasons for his action: La France insoumise published the names of the Macronist and right-wing deputies who opposed the repeal of retirement at 64, in practicing obstruction with the tabling of a thousand amendments. The MP denounced the “pressure” received by those close to him from left-wing sympathizers.
“The deputy Bouloux, who is next to me (in the hemicycle, Editor's note), personally knows my relatives and I asked him what he thought” of the methods of the deputies of La France insoumise. “He told me: 'I don't share that'. I told him: 'it would be interesting to say it'. He told me: 'no, I can't'”, recounted the elected official centrist.
“I have been human, when people attack my loved ones, I don't take it well. (…) In front of me, there are scavengers who are even ready to put pressure on those around me …”, he further explained.
If he claims to “regret” his attitude and that he will present an “apology” to the socialist deputy, he refused to do the same to his rebellious colleague. “He first insulted me so I went towards him dynamically, let’s say that, to express myself with him,” he explained.
Towards sanctions?
Will Nicolas Turquois be sanctioned by the Assembly? When the debates resumed on Thursday, the session president Xavier Breton (LR) announced that he would propose to the President of the National Assembly Yaël Braun-Pivet to discuss the incident at the next meeting of the office of the Assembly with a view to sanction.
A call shared by left-wing deputies. “It's not normal. I was sanctioned for having reminded that the extreme right is heir to Vichy. And he wouldn't be sanctioned? It's not normal”, said Antoine Léaument on our antenna. The decision now falls to Yaël Braun-Pivet, who can issue a simple call to order or go as far as temporary exclusion.
