“It’s unimaginable” that France would become dependent on importing steel, warns Aurélie Trouvé, LFI rapporteur of the text

After having been voted on at first reading in the Assembly, the bill which aims to nationalize the steel company, emanating from the parliamentary niche of La France insoumise, must still be examined by the Senate.

“If we don’t nationalize, there will be no more steel in five, ten years” in France, alert, Saturday November 29 on France Inter, Aurélie Trouvé, LFI deputy and rapporteur of the text aimed at nationalizing ArcelorMittal. His bill was adopted Thursday evening at first reading in the National Assembly. It must now be examined by the Senate, dominated by the right and the center. The government opposes this nationalization.

“What shocks me is that the Minister of Industry and the governments, for a very long time, have had no answer, no solution to an absolutely serious problem which is that steel production risks being condemned in five, ten years in France, even though it is an absolutely essential strategic asset for France”denounces Aurélie Trouvé. “Steel is everywhere, in national defense, in automobiles. What happens if tomorrow we are dependent on third countries to import steel, dependent on supply disruptions, price spikes? It’s unimaginable.”

The rebellious MP deplores the lack of investments from ArcelorMittal and the relocations. “It’s time to stop this.”she said. “There will be no steel production if investment in electric furnaces is not made in the coming months. ArcelorMittal refuses. The State must therefore do so by nationalizing”believes Aurélie Trouvé. “Nationalization has been a demand from ArcelorMittal workers for several years”she recalls.

The law must still be adopted in the Senate, where it has little chance of being voted on, but Aurélie Trouvé believes in it: “We are told that it will not pass in the Senate. But in 2022, we were told the same thing when we proposed in our parliamentary niche the constitutionalization of the right to abortion. The result is that two years later, it is voted on and it is in the Constitution”she observes. “Yes, the State can be a strategist, yes the State can plan, yes the State can act”she insists.