CGT Secretary General Sophie Binet predicted on Monday that the National Rally (RN) had adopted a “blockade strategy” against a vote planned for Thursday in the National Assembly on a draft law aimed at nationalizing French steelmaker ArcelorMittal.
The steel giant announced its social plans in France in April, the relevance of which was called into question by an expert report commissioned by the CSE.
“We were very surprised to learn that the deputies of the National General Assembly (…) had planned to implement an obstruction strategy”, with many amendments, (…) “and if these amendments are retained, it means that the bill cannot be approved,” said Sophie Binet.
“Obstruction maneuver”
The text, brought by rebel MP Aurélie Trouvé, was adopted on 19 November in the Finance Committee of the National Assembly, supported by the entire left wing, rejected by the right and center wings, while the RN abstained.
“They abstained to make people believe that they were not opposed and behind it (…), they carried out obstructive maneuvers,” protested Sophie Binet, who spoke about the “hypocritical” approach of the RN.
More than 310 amendments were submitted to the text, the end of submission of amendments was Monday at 5 pm, sources in parliament showed. The RN group submitted 195 amendments, and its UDR allies 84, or a total of 279 amendments, the remaining amendments having been submitted by the Macronists (EPR, 28) and the LFI (3), according to data on the National Assembly website.
Administrators are still reviewing the feasibility of this amendment, so the amount discussed in the session may be lower, according to parliamentary sources.
Call to demonstrate
“We call on all deputies to attend and vote on this fundamental legislative proposal to defend our industry and national sovereignty,” said Sophie Binet, who will send a letter on this matter on Tuesday to MPs, except RN members. “What we see is the RN working for Mittal,” he concluded, believing that the party is “helping big multinationals to double down and steal our industry”.
Thursday, on the sidelines of examining the text, the CGT asked employees of the steel industry, which is experiencing great difficulties, to demonstrate in front of the Assembly “to ask the deputies to take up their responsibilities and protect the French steel industry”, said Sophie Binet.
