The Senate dominated by the right-wing opposition overwhelmingly approved on Wednesday April 14, the day after the National Assembly, the maintenance in June of regional and departmental elections, with a delay of one week, while insisting on the measures which must secure the campaign and the holding of the poll.
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At the end of a statement by Prime Minister Jean Castex, who confirmed the dates of June 20 and 27 announced the day before in front of the deputies, the Senate gave its support to the choice of the government by 319 votes for and only 8 against, including 4 LR.
Ten LR senators also abstained.
Faced with the Covid-19 epidemic, "
what
obsesses
me is the protection of our fellow citizens, that's all,
" insisted Jean Castex, in response to the criticisms that have punctuated the debate.
"
The doubt is therefore raised
", greeted François-Noël Buffet (LR), the chairman of the Law Commission regretting, however, that "
this doubt has persisted
".
“
June 13 and 20 seemed more suitable for reasons of mobilization,
” he recalled.
The delay of one week "
gives a little more time to the two campaigns, vaccination and electoral
", noted Vanina Paoli-Gagin (Independents).
"
This is not a joke,
" said Gérald Darmanin, the Minister of the Interior, but a "
necessary
delay"
"To ensure good organization despite the"
difficulties
", in the context of the health crisis.
François-Noël Buffet also said he was "
pleased
" that the government had taken up "
almost all
" of the commission's proposals to support the campaign and secure the holding of the poll.
Satisfaction shared by Jean-Claude Requier (RDSE with a radical majority) for whom the measures announced by the Prime Minister "
go in a satisfactory direction, even though they do not provide absolute guarantees
".
Almost all of the speakers returned to the controversial consultation of mayors this weekend: an "
express referendum which cannot be assimilated to a consultation
", according to Cécile Cukierman (Communist-majority CRCE), "a
commendable initiative, but, for the blow, somewhat cavalier
”, for the ecologist Guillaume Gontard.
Jean-Louis Masson (not registered) blasted "
a maneuver worthy of a banana republic
".
The Prime Minister judged "
astonishing, precisely, that one can be surprised at such a consultation, insofar as the main effort and the responsibility for the organization of these two polls will necessarily weigh on the mayors
".
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Several senators have also mentioned ulterior motives that the executive would have had, while these elections promise to be difficult for the majority.
"
I have the weakness to think that at the highest summit of the State since June 13, 2020, we want the postponement of the territorial elections after the presidential elections
", launched the centrist Olivier Henno.
"
The second step is to interfere with the start of the campaign by maintaining uncertainty,
" added Éric Kerrouche (PS).
"
If democratic life must breathe, its breathing is Covid type, panting and out of breath,
" said François Patriat (majority RDPI En Marche).
