the Assembly will not sit this weekend, the left denounces an “unacceptable” decision

“We must also take into account the fatigue that exists among the deputies, among the collaborators, among the administrators” of the Assembly, explained Laurent Panifous, the minister in charge of relations with Parliament.

Barely resumed, already stopped. The National Assembly, which returned to examining the finance bill on Wednesday, will ultimately not sit this weekend as planned. Announcement made shortly before midnight, Thursday November 13, by the minister in charge of relations with Parliament. “At the pace at which we are moving, it is obvious that on Monday we will not finish the 1,900 amendments” remaining on the first part (receipts), declared Laurent Panifous. The debates will therefore not continue “Saturday and Sunday” : they will resume Monday from 9 a.m., instead of the middle of the day.

After several weeks of budget discussions, “we must also take into account the fatigue that exists among deputies, among collaborators, among administrators” of the Assembly, defended Laurent Panifous in the hemicycle, specifying that he had been “should” by several groups on the issue.

The left was immediately offended by this decision, which effectively shortens the debates on a text that was discussed within tight deadlines. Some MPs accuse the executive of seeking to prevent a vote from taking place.

A decision immediately qualified as“unacceptable” by the head of environmentalist deputies Cyrielle Chatelain, who accused the executive “to organize (…) the fact that this assembly cannot decide on the budget”. “Don’t take someone’s fatigue as an excuse” pour “prevent us from being able to vote on the state budget”added the coordinator of La France insoumise Manuel Bompard.

The entire text must be transmitted to the Senate on November 23 at midnight, according to constitutional deadlines. If it seems clear that the deputies will not have time to get to the end, a vote on the revenue part alone is not guaranteed either. The socialists will proceed “massive withdrawals of amendments” so that the Assembly can “elector”, declared MP Philippe Brun, saying he regretted the government’s decision. LFI said it had already renounced 15% of its amendments and was ready to withdraw more.