Anti-squats text: left-wing deputies at the front, before the end of the winter break

At the call of associations fighting against poor housing, a few dozen people gathered around the Palais Bourbon to call in parallel for the withdrawal of the text which will be the subject of a solemn vote next Tuesday.

The bill, supported by the Renaissance and Horizons groups and supported by the right and the RN, plans to triple the penalties incurred by squatters, up to three years in prison and a fine of 45.000 euros.

Its author, Guillaume Kasbarian (Renaissance), claims to be tackling an "important problem which outrages our fellow citizens", that of illegal occupation.

The deputies on the left have sought in vain to reconsider an addition by the senators at first reading: by this article, the judge will no longer be able to grant time limits to squatters whose expulsion has been judicially ordered.

"We must trust the judge," insisted the patron saint of the Green deputies, Cyrielle Chatelain, to the address of the Minister of Justice, Eric Dupond-Moretti, present.

The elected Communist of Seine-Saint-Denis Stéphane Peu was indignant, stressing that "these deadlines were granted in particular in situations with young children". But "the 115 (emergency number for the homeless) is saturated" and "the enforceable right to housing does not work", he said.

The new article "stigmatizes the most precarious at the very end of the winter break", added Martine Etienne (LFI). During this truce, from November 1 to March 31, the eviction of tenants is postponed - but the truce does not apply to squatters.

The bill also speeds up procedures in the event of unpaid rent. In particular, the lease contracts systematically provide for a "automatic termination clause", which the owner can activate without having to take legal action.

The judge may grant a payment period to the tenant, but on condition that the latter seizes it, the deputies provided, while the senators had removed this condition.

According to the socialist Iñaki Echaniz, who unsuccessfully defended a prior rejection motion, the text “risks increasing the number of homeless people”.

Mr. Dupond-Moretti welcomed the parliamentary work carried out, which according to him allows "a balance between the defense of property ownership and the right to housing".

The Minister of Housing, Olivier Klein, assured not to oppose the sanction measures and "an ambitious policy for housing".

In the evening, the deputies validated the sustainability of the device for the temporary provision of vacant premises for social purposes. An LFI amendment has been adopted so that the State carries out checks when private companies are involved. Mr. Klein mentioned a future "charter" on the subject.