In committee, deputies speak out against the reform of unemployment insurance

Adopted in committee four days before the European elections, the Liot proposal notably wants to include in law 18 months of compensation for the unemployed. She gathered the votes of the left and the RN to mark their opposition to the new reform launched by the executive, while the right abstained.

From December 1, the government wants to reduce the duration of compensation from 18 to 15 months and change the rules for receiving compensation, requiring 8 months worked over the last 20 months, compared to 6 over the last 24 months currently.

The executive does not need a legislative text to carry out its reform, strongly opposed by the main unions: CFDT, CGT, FO, CFE-CGC and CFTC.

In response, Liot launched a symbolic initiative to demonstrate that Prime Minister Gabriel Attal does not have a majority in the National Assembly on his reform.

MP (Liot) Martine Froger underlined the “strong signal” represented by her proposed law.

On the left, the Insoumis Louis Boyard considered it "abject" to "precarize the unemployed", while the socialist Boris Vallaud accused the government of "building a society of poor workers and drudges".

On the far right, RN Emmanuel Taché de la Pagerie denounced the "social breakdown", "established as a golden calf".

In the presidential camp, Renaissance deputy Marc Ferracci criticized Liot for wanting to reverse "almost all of the unemployment insurance reforms", which "have contributed to the creation of more than 2 million jobs since 2017", he said.

Liot wants to "maintain the status quo at all costs", in turn denounced Nicolas Turquois (MoDem), after a similar "political and media coup" against the pension reform in 2023.

Didier Martin (Renaissance) also joked about this "new revolutionary group in the National Assembly", while Liot brings together former socialists, overseas and Corsican elected officials as well as personalities like Charles de Courson, from the center right.

The fate of the text in the hemicycle on Thursday June 13, during a day reserved for Liot proposals, will depend in particular on the position of LR deputies and their mobilization in the hemicycle.

In committee, the right opted for abstention. LR has “lost its compass” on unemployment insurance, “in complete inconsistency and irresponsibility”, criticized Marc Ferracci to AFP.

“We are not the government’s crutch. It was Marc Ferracci who took the water,” replied LR deputy Stéphane Viry.

Whatever happens, the future of Liot's text would remain very uncertain in the Senate.