The executive feared the motion of censure, here is the motion of rejection. The immigration bill arrives this Monday in public session of the National Assembly. Announced for many months, the debates already promise to be heated… if the text is really discussed. Because before the discussions even begin, the deputies will have to decide on a “motion to reject” the government project. A prospect that gives Elisabeth Borne and Gérald Darmanin a cold sweat.
What is a motion to dismiss?
Little known to the general public, this legislative tool is detailed in section 91 of the regulations of the National Assembly. Before any discussion on a bill, MPs can file a “preliminary rejection motion”. The objective: “to have it recognized that the proposed text is contrary to one or more constitutional provisions or to have it decided that there is no need to deliberate”. In short, find a good reason to torpedo the bill.
Parliamentarians can table several motions, but only one will be debated in the Chamber. It is also that of the environmental group which won the draw and will be submitted to a vote by parliamentarians on Monday.
Why does the government fear the worst?
Traditionally, the motion to reject allows oppositions to display their disagreements with this or that bill. But this time, the executive is in a cold sweat. Because a motley alliance of opponents of the government could well obtain a majority. This would require the left to vote for the motion, as well as the National Rally and part of the Republicans. Two unknowns remain: what will the right do? Scalded by the rejection of their proposals on immigration on Thursday (during their niche), the LRs leave doubts lingering. “It’s quite a tempting solution,” has already indicated Olivier Marleix, the boss of the group, who had even tried to file his own motion of rejection. “The text was emptied of its substance by the majority in the Commission, so I think that we will be a majority to vote for,” assures an LR elected official.
For the moment, the RN elected officials are also reserving their position, which will be decided in a group meeting shortly before the vote. The government today says it is confident, not imagining Marine Le Pen and her friends passing up a chance to be able to defend their measures against immigration from the podium. But “if they do not vote for the motion, they would then save the government,” continues the elected LR. A way to put pressure on the National Rally.
What happens if a motion is passed?
If the motion is rejected, debates on the text can begin as planned. But if the environmentalists’ motion obtains a majority of votes this Monday, several possibilities are available to the executive. The first, abandon the text. This seems unlikely. The second would be to send the text back to the Senate for a second reading. This would amount to postponing a possible final vote in both Houses for several months. Last possibility: convene a joint joint committee (CMP), in which deputies and senators would try to find compromises for a common text. But the presidential camp, which would not be in the majority, would have to battle with the right to find a compromise. In all three cases, it would be a real slap in the face for the government.