The National Assembly in Paris continued the examination of the “expenses” section of the Social Security budget on the evening of November 5th, with no guarantee of being able to complete this legislative task before the midnight deadline. During the debates in the afternoon, several left-wing or far-right National Rally (RN) members unsuccessfully requested a change in the order of amendments to the Social Security Financing Bill (PLFSS). They wanted to ensure that the Assembly had enough time to examine a controversial aspect of the text: the government’s proposal to postpone the pension revaluation by six months. Some members argued that this issue should be prioritized due to its social injustice implications, while others suggested that each group withdraw some amendments to allow the text to be fully examined.
However, the president of the social affairs commission, Frédéric Valletoux (Horizons), refused to make any changes to the work schedule, emphasizing the importance of all the articles in the bill. He stated that they would continue the discussions and attempt to examine the entire PLFSS. By 7 pm, there were still around 200 amendments to be considered before addressing the controversial retirement provision, and a total of nearly 450 amendments to be discussed until the end of the text. The Assembly had previously adopted the “revenues” portion of the bill in a significantly revised form, with the left making amendments that were opposed by the right and center.
If the “expenses” section, and consequently the entire PLFSS bill, is not adopted within the designated time frame, the text will be sent to the Senate in the government’s original version, enriched with the “amendments voted by the National Assembly and accepted by it,” as per the Social Security Code. Earlier in the evening, the deputies approved various provisions related to healthcare policy, including reforms to dental examinations for children and vaccination requirements for college students. They also endorsed reimbursement for consultations with certain psychologists and tests for detecting chemical dependency. The debates in the National Assembly highlighted the contentious nature of the proposed changes to the Social Security budget and the importance of various healthcare policies.
Despite attempts by some members to prioritize specific amendments related to pension revaluation, the president of the social affairs commission stood firm on proceeding with the full examination of the Social Security budget. The discussions in the National Assembly underscored the conflicting views on government policies and the challenges of reaching consensus on critical social security issues. The Assembly’s adoption of certain healthcare reforms and reimbursement provisions reflected the ongoing efforts to address public health concerns and promote preventive care measures. The debates around the PLFSS bill highlighted the complexities of healthcare policy-making and the competing interests of different political factions.
