More than a hiccup, a political error that could cost La République en Marche (LREM) dear. By rejecting a bill, in the National Assembly, allowing a 12-day leave to parents in the event of the death of a child, the government and the majority LREM outraged all members of the opposition and even the Medef. This refusal fueled criticism against a majority accused of being "above ground" or "disconnected" from reality. The blunder falls badly, at the approach of a debate which promises to be tense, in the National Assembly, on pension reform, and a few weeks before the municipal elections.
Read also: Leave after the death of a child: the government "recognizes an error", Macron asks for "humanity"
The controversy even prompted Emmanuel Macron to intervene in a rare gesture, asking "the government to show humanity" . After having justified the rejection of the bill, the Minister of Labor Muriel Pénicaud backtracked by announcing Sunday, February 2, in Le Parisien , a government amendment on the issue. This bill will be examined in the Senate on March 3, after its rejection in the National Assembly. Back to a controversy in five acts.
Thursday: the National Assembly retains the bill
It all begins on January 30, when the National Assembly rescinds the proposal to extend the bereavement leave from five to twelve days for parents facing the death of their child. The proposal was narrowly rejected, by 40 votes to 38. The Minister of Labor, Muriel Pénicaud, explained her unfavorable opinion on the bill: the text was not based on national solidarity, but on leave "paid 100% by the company, ”she regrets.
In the hemicycle, the debate escalates. "When you buy generosity at a good price on the back of companies, it's still a little easy," argues MP LREM Sereine Mauborgne, arousing indignant reactions. The deputy defends, however, "the possibility for the employer to create an RTT donation account for a bereaved colleague" .
The opposition is stepping up. "We are talking about the tragedy of tragedies: twelve days, I thought it would pass like a letter in the post," says the rebellious François Ruffin. "I thought that on this file, we would all walk hand in hand" , he regrets, while the ex-LREM Agnès Thill mocks "a humanity with variable geometry" among his former colleagues. In the United Kingdom, argues UDI deputy for the North Guy Bricout, at the origin of the proposal, the leave for bereavement of a child is 15 days. For him, it is "shocking" that this leave is shorter than the paternity leave, which is 11 days.
The indignation is growing, far beyond the ranks of the Palais Bourbon.
Friday: Medef defends the bill
The next day, the employers themselves expressed their surprise. The former president of Medef, Laurence Parisot, wrote on Twitter that the employers ' organization "would be honored to ask for a new vote on this proposal."
An initiative immediately taken up by the current president of Medef Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux: "It's obvious and it's launched" .
Embarrassed, the government tries, as best it can, to put an end to the controversy. Muriel Pénicaud admits a "collective error" , and Adrien Taquet, Secretary of State for Child Protection announces the launch of a concertation to improve support measures for parents bereaved by the death of a child.
Saturday: Macron calls on government to "show humanity"
Pain lost: this announcement is not enough to put an end to the controversy. On Saturday, in an unprecedented move, Emmanuel Macron himself asked the government to "show humanity" to support the bill.
In the process, the LREM deputies declared that they were ready to " quickly re-vote " this proposal. “ In the face of grief, we need psychological support and we will strengthen it. But it also takes a break , adds in the evening Muriel Pénicaud, interviewed by AFP, committing to find solutions in the next few days "for an extension to 12 days.
Sunday: Muriel Pénicaud announces a government amendment
After the mea culpa, place, therefore, to "repair" ... In Le Parisien, the Minister of Labor finally announces that "the extension to twelve days will return to the Senate in the form of a government amendment". Muriel Pénicaud clarified that the measure could be financed by "national solidarity, in other words Social Security" . "Will companies take a share?" We'll talk about it, all options are possible, ”she adds. In addition, the measures adopted Thursday to authorize the donation of RTT between employees will be retained.
Finally, to "go further" , Muriel Pénicaud announces that the government intends to work on "psychological support over time" , support "funeral expenses" and finally "open these measures to civil servants" .
Monday: Aurore Bergé confronts the government with its responsibilities
End of the controversy? Not quite. This Monday, February 3, in an interview with the Parisian , the deputy and spokesperson for LREM Aurore Bergé defends his troops by ensuring that "the idiots, they are deputies who have just been loyal to the government". A reference to anonymous critics, within the executive, who judged that "the LREM deputies are stupid" and that they "don't know how to do the job" . And a subtle way of blaming the government for its responsibilities.
Wednesday: Pénicaud must receive the social partners
After several days of controversy and the announcement of a text of law to finally extend parental leave, Muriel Penicaud receives unions and employers on Wednesday in order to "find a solution", according to AFP. The text will be examined on March 3 in the Senate, with a view to an amendment that the Minister hopes to see " voted unanimously ".
See also - Leave for bereavement of a child: "No one is infallible", justifies Sibeth Ndiaye
Read also: Leave for the death of a child: for Bergé, "the" idiots "are members who were just loyal"