Charles de Courson and several presidents of the parliamentary group: “A new rejection of democracy can only increase dissatisfaction with our institutions”

VSWhat is going on in the National Assembly in the last weeks and the coming days is nothing but the protection of the rights of the parliamentarians, the opposition, and therefore, in part, our democracy.

Gaston Monerville [1897-1991] Was an outstanding Senate President because he was impervious to the pressures he was targeted for. In 1962, he announced: “It is a fact of experience that in a republic, when the majority wants to suppress the minorities, a real spirit is formed which is incompatible with democracy. Also, democracies establish constitutional forms that deny the executive—and sometimes the legislature—the power to take measures contrary to the nature of free institutions. »

The bill, which would repeal the effective retirement age delay, is the subject of every possible maneuver to avoid a national vote. During the discussion of this text in the Committee on Wednesday, May 31, no artificiality was used, the President of the Committee on Social Affairs simply decided that the sub-amendments presented would not be considered, which is against the right of amendment.

But this is nothing compared to the white-threaded script written by the Speaker of the National Assembly at the behest of the President of the Republic. According to his latest statements, the latter is preparing to announce the changes to restore Article 1 as inadmissible, which provides for the cancellation of the postponement of the retirement age by 2 years.

The front is dangerous

To do so and avoid consideration of an amendment that reinstates a provision in the original text that has been recognized twice (by the House Clerk and the Chair of the Finance Committee) is an unusual and dangerous precedent.

We remember, as Charles de Gaulle said, that the Constitution, “This is the spirit
Institutions, Practices’.

However, if the Speaker of the Assembly is the internal judge of the financial admissibility of amendments before they are discussed in public session, precedent practice establishes that this examination is carried out on the basis of the reference most favorable to the parliamentary initiative. : The initial text is submitted to the committee. By law, on this basis, the restoration changes must be declared admissible. and debate on Thursday, June 8.

Any other decision by Yael Brown-Pivett would call into question the standing practice of the Constitution and the Regulations and be an attack on parliamentary initiative on an unprecedented scale.