France’s ruling Socialists have been free to push controversial legislation through unchallenged in the absence of a functioning opposition, as the centre-right UMP grapples with an existential hangover after a disastrous leadership vote, reports France 24.
Since a disputed primary on November 18, parliamentary business has been going on apace in often half-empty debating chambers, while UMP members attend marathon meetings to try to resolve a crisis that threatens the party’s future and legitimacy.
Following the vote, Jean-François Copé claimed victory, while challenger and former prime minister François Fillon declared Copé’s move an “illegal power grab”. The results showed that Copé beat his opponent by a small margin. Both camps have made allegations of ballot stuffing and voting irregularities.
And while the party tries – apparently in vain – to find a solution, amendments to bills that would otherwise have been stock-in-trade issues for conservative outrage have fallen by the wayside. Since the crisis erupted, just 30 out of a total 150 UMP proposed amendments have been debated.
The Socialists have thus been able to keep contentious elements including – among many others - provisions in the social security budget bill guaranteeing anonymity for minors in obtaining free contraception, and the granting of “paternity” leave to lesbians when their partners (who get maternity leave) give birth.
Laurence Rossignol, Socialist Senator for the Oise administrative region, told FRANCE 24 on Wednesday that she had not seen any UMP members there that day, and that the party’s benches had also been empty on Monday.
“Being free of their obstructions, we’ve been able to take advantage and go ahead with legislation in record time,” she said.
“With the crisis their party is going through, they have every reason to want to keep a low profile. It has also made them less arrogant, they are being more humble.”
Read more of this report from France 24.