The National Assembly widely rejects the free trade agreement

The National Assembly approved, on Tuesday night, the government’s declaration that opposes the signing of the free trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur (common market of five Latin American countries), in its current version. 484 votes in favor of the declaration and 70 against. The government did not obtain the unanimity it expected.

It was La France insoumise (LFI) that failed. The LFI deputies voted against the declaration, considering that the government was not opposed to the treaty. “as is”. “A good agreement with Mercosur is not possible”said Arnaud Le Gall (LFI, Val-d’Oise). In fact, the Minister of Agriculture, Annie Genevard, and the Minister of Foreign Trade, Sophie Primas, have not defended an anti-free trade position. Like the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister, they hope that mirror clauses will be included in the draft agreement, that is, that the same rules to which European producers are subject will be imposed on Mercosur producers.

As expected, in the underlying debate everyone remained in their positions: the left that opposed social and environmental issues; the extreme right, for mainly sovereign reasons; The presidential coalition, although opposed to this agreement, insisted on not rejecting free trade in principle.

“We want to fight this battle with you!” »

But that was not the topic of the day. Michel Barnier wanted, on Tuesday, to be able to count on the most unanimous vote possible from the National Assembly to give weight to the position of France, until then quite isolated within the European Union. The two ministers spared no effort in this regard: “We want to fight this battle with you!” “That is the goal of tonight’s vote.”launched the Minister of Agriculture. “ Your constant mobilization has already left its mark and must continue strongly. “You are, together with us, the key actors in this fight towards your counterparts from all European countries and all sensitivities.”added the Minister of Foreign Trade.

The left remains very suspicious of a government whose sincerity it doubts. “I am not convinced that France will go so far as to block this agreement. Are you prepared to use your veto power in the European Council? »asked the president of the communist deputies, André Chassaigne (Puy-de-Dôme). The socialist deputy for Finistère Mélanie Thomin limited herself to asking some rhetorical questions: “Are we just getting together to make up the numbers? Is this a true democratic exercise of unity against Mercosur or are we guarantors of a government that needs a majority? »

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