What a turnaround at the Parliament. This Monday May 10, 2021, as deputies passed the creation of a “health pass” to come along the lockdown exit, when examining the draft bill to exit health crisis, the National Assembly eventually passed the draft bill in the night from Tuesday to Wednesday. This door opener will first enable to travel from and to foreign countries, and then allow people to access some places or events.
A few hours after the vote at the Assembly, Prime Minister Jean Castex was invited on France 2 televised broadcast and reassured on the fact “divergence was not about the pass” itself but “the date to exit health emergency”. He also confirmed the government will “find an agreement with the majority; it’s normal they struggle. […] We will fix the problem, there’ll be a health pass”, the head of government repeats.
A shift in situation initiated by MoDem deputies who completely rejected the first article of the draft bill. Very unhappy with how the debates were taking place, centrist deputies put their threat to vote against the draft bill into operation. The National Assembly rejected the proposition with 103 voices for and 108 against.
The following night, from Tuesday May 11 to Wednesday 12, 2021, the National Assembly passed during the second deliberation the draft bill to progressively exit health emergency, on which the implementation of a Covid-19 health pass depends. Very late in the evening, the first article of the polemical draft has been altered and approved by deputies from the majority. The transition period allowing the government to instate restricted liberties will be shorter: namely from June 2 to late September rather than late October.
What is the “health pass” rejected by the National Assembly? The text’s key-measure as for exiting the health crisis was to respond to the danger caused by the Covid-19 epidemic. most of all, this “pass” is to enable everyone to travel abroad or enter France. Then, it will grant access to major gatherings or some places subject to a negative test result or a vaccination certificate, or a recovery certification following coronavirus infection.
Oppositions from all parties applied themselves to standing in the way of the draft bill. “We’re told it’s a draft bill to manage the exit of this health crisis, and we are produced the most coercive controlling measure since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis”, La France Insoumise deputy Eric Coquerel finds regrettable.
At the Law Commission, long talks ended up to the reject of many amendments, even from centrists close to MoDem. “The health pass must enable us to reopen places open to the public, festivals, places of gatherings. If we did not have the health pass, we would have to wait much longer” State Secretary for Digital Cédric O explains.
Covid: the National Assembly approves the health emergency exit
France has been in health emergency since March 24, 2020, because of the Covid-19 epidemic; The situation is about to come to a close: the health emergency is to end on July 31, 2022. [Read more]
Location
Assemblée Nationale - Palais Bourbon
35 Quai d'Orsay
75007 Paris 7
