A chaotic session, a truncated text: this Tuesday, the National Assembly gave the first green light to a health bill supposed to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. Small flat, the text is amputated from a key article on the possible return of the health pass for “extra-hexagonal” trips. So we start with a “yes, but…” from the Palais-Bourbon. To fully understand this “planed” piece of legislation, which highlights the government’s difficulties in imposing itself with a relative majority, 20 minutes make the point.
What is the health bill?
This bill is intended to take over from the state regime health emergency which will end on July 31. As a reminder, the state of health emergency authorizes the Prime Minister (i.e. Elisabeth Borne) to take various measures by decree, such as limiting the freedom to come and go or to meet. To name but a few. This health bill therefore contains two main measures. First of all, the maintenance of the computer system centralizing the screening results until March 2023. But also, the establishment of a health pass at the borders and for journeys between mainland France and overseas territories, from August 1.
What does article 2 say, which has been “amputated”?
While the examination of the “health watch and security” bill began on Monday in the Assembly, article 2 of the said bill was rejected overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday. This article 2 provided for the possibility, if necessary, of restoring the health pass for “extra-hexagonal” travel, to or from abroad. A provision allowing this pass to be required for underage travelers had been rejected a little before.
But 219 votes against 195 opposed him, thanks to a conjunction of votes from the RN, LR and a majority of the left alliance gathered under the Nupes. Since this Tuesday, the text is therefore reduced for the essential to its article 1, which allows, due to a still fragile epidemic situation, to continue to collect health data on screening tests (SI-DEP system).
What follow-up should be given to this opposed vote?
Beyond the health bill, this first text of the legislature reflected the difficulty of maneuvering for the government and the relative majority it has. In the opposition, the multiple votes on the articles and amendments showed resolute hostility from the RN and most left-wing groups (LFI, communists, ecologists). The new Minister of Health François Braun thus concluded laconically “to take note” of the discussions punctuated by multiple negotiations and suspensions of the session. However, he assured that he would work to restore this text in its entirety during the rest of the legislative process.
An opinion shared by Olivier Véran who also said he was “confident”, this Wednesday morning, in the possibility of restoring the health bill to the Senate. “We are confident in the possibility of convincing the senators who are already convinced of the interest of such a measure”, affirmed the government spokesperson after the Council of Ministers.