The Assembly votes a text for a nationalization of EDF without "dismantling", against the opinion of the government

After lively debates, the National Assembly adopted Thursday, February 9 in first reading, and against the opinion of the government, a socialist text for a "nationalization" of EDF without risk of "dismantling", but also for a tariff shield extended to craftsmen, in particular bakers.

The text of deputy Philippe Brun was adopted with 205 votes to 1, with the support of all the opposition against the presidential camp, the latter having left the hemicycle accusing one of the articles of circumventing the Constitution.

It is a significant victory for the Socialists, who relied heavily on the adoption of this text, which will now have to be studied by the Senate. It first provides for a "nationalization" of EDF, even though the government has already launched a public takeover bid to take up 100% of the electricity giant's capital.

"This bill is useless," tried to argue Minister Roland Lescure, fearing that its adoption would pose "a risk against the operation in progress" and "at best a setback".

Bercy argued Wednesday that the state held "95,82% of the capital", the rest of the operation being suspended to a decision of the Paris Court of Appeal on shareholder appeals.

But part of the opposition suspects the executive, despite its recurring denials, of not having really given up on “Hercules”, a controversial EDF restructuring project, involving the separation of nuclear, hydroelectric and renewable activities.

"We do not want Hercules or Heracles, whatever the name" of a project of "dismemberment" of EDF, supported the chairman of the Finance Committee Eric Coquerel (LFI).

The text therefore plans to engrave in stone the activities of the operator. "Bercy will no longer have a free hand. The future of EDF will now be discussed before the National Assembly", summed up the ecologist deputy Charles Fournier.

Points of order and session interruptions punctuated the start of the session, with opposition deputies accusing the majority of "obstructing".

The presidential camp protested against the retention in the text of an article to extend the energy tariff shield to more beneficiaries, and in particular artisan bakers.

They consider it contrary to the Constitution, because adding a financial burden for the State, which the deputies cannot constitutionally do.

"This is an extremely serious precedent for our institutions," said Jean-René Cazeneuve (Renaissance).

Eric Coquerel "flouted impartiality and our Constitution so as to accept an amendment which would cost 18 billion euros", accused the president of the group Aurore Bergé.

The measure was adopted with an amendment adding that "by way of derogation" from the 2023 budget, "losses of revenue collected by electricity suppliers are not compensated by the State".