For Valentine’s Day, the Borne-Ciotti tandem did not celebrate their union on pension reform. Quite the contrary! The deputies Les Républicains (LR) even made an infidelity to their counterparts of the presidential majority by voting, Tuesday evening, February 14, against article 2 establishing an index of seniors. The first major setback by the government in the Assembly on this controversial pension reform.
Pension reform: the unique Borne-Ciotti axis
The slap for the government was welcomed, on the benches of the elected representatives of the New People’s Ecological and Social Union (Nupes), with cheers and songs. “Tonight, the whole left and the FN [Front national, ancien nom du Rassemblement national] celebrate » this vote, lamented the Minister of Labor Olivier Dussopt, who refrained from quoting the LR deputies. This victory is however that of all the opposition which, for the first time, acted in concert.
Of the 61 deputies of the LR group, 38 of them, including their leader Olivier Marleix, voted against the article and 6 abstained. Others, like Eric Ciotti, preferred to be absent: “I did not take part in the vote. We had decided in the group in the morning to vote against this article which is an alibi article, which is useless”explained this Wednesday, February 15 on France 2 the deputy of the Alpes-Maritimes.
Send a message to the government
The reasons for this disagreement are many. If the Nupes denounced a device that was too weak because it was not binding, the right felt on the contrary that it was simply useless. Eric Ciotti even mentioned “a kind of thing that was going to weigh on the daily work of companies”. For others, the calculation was different: “It was an opportunity for us to have fun at a lower cost and to show that LR is not for sale”said another LR deputy after the vote.
Pension reform: “Different conceptions of democracy clash”
It was also an opportunity to send a message to the government with which LR is still negotiating concessions, especially on long careers. Before the vote, Elisabeth Borne had just unveiled new arbitrations on the question. “As soon as the early retirement age is reached, the reform does not provide, for long careers, for a contribution period of more than 43 years”had promised the Prime Minister during the session of questions to the government.
Statements that were not enough to reassure the most reluctant and refractory right-wing deputies to the idea of voting for pension reform. “On the 16 years we do not understand if there is an evolution. There is an advance on the 17 year olds but we have to see for the 16 year olds. We need the exact detail »has in particular declared Aurélien Pradié.
An empty promise
However, does this setback call into question the support of LRs for the reform? “Personally I will vote for it” And “My political family yesterday voted almost unanimously for a motion saying that we wanted to vote for this reform”, said Eric Ciotti. During the political bureau of the party which met on Tuesday morning, the motion was approved with 62 votes in favor and 8 abstentions. Among the latter, we find in particular the president of the Hauts-de-France region, Xavier Bertrand, and the number 2 of the party, Aurélien Pradié.
“I don’t have a pact with the government! “: Aurélien Pradié pushes the right to the brink of a nervous breakdown
Asked about the reluctance of the deputy of Lot and several close elected officials, Eric Ciotti said to himself “convinced that we will vote in the same direction, we are working on it”after recalling “we are not a barracks, the deputies do not have an imperative mandate, they are free”. Understand: negotiations are still underway to obtain a text capable of satisfying everyone.
Tuesday’s negative vote has therefore changed nothing in the government’s equation, which is betting on an agreement with LR to have the text adopted. The majority of right-wing elected officials are in favor of the reform. And if there are slingers, there is still time to bring them back to the right path. “Anyway, there will be no vote! »believes an LR deputy to the “ Parisian “, sweeping away the divisions from which his party suffers. If the outcome of the debates which will end on Friday is still uncertain, one thing is certain: the coalition of oppositions was a promise with no future.
