Cannabis, glyphosate, self-employment: This week in French parliament

A law protecting self-employed worker’s personal property from creditors and proposals to legalise cannabis and ban glyphosate are among the subjects set for debate by the French parliament this week.

Here is a round-up of key points France’s elected politicians will be looking at, and other important official dates for the week.

The National Assembly

Today Monday January 10

• Special MPs’ commission will examine a bill, already adopted by the Senate, regarding the legal status of self-employed people.

The bill aims notably to create a new default status for single-business owners which would protect their personal property from business creditors.

Only the principal residence is, as of today, protected by such rights (unless the business owner opted for certain special business set-ups).

“Only the necessary elements related to the business activity could be seized”, according to the government.

Tuesday January 11

• The assembly is listening to Didier Leschi, director of the French Integration and Immigration office, to evaluate the results of a 2018-immigration law.

Among other elements the law aims to reduce the average time for processing asylum-seekers' applications, by cutting down on red tape.

It also toughened the rules concerning illegal immigrants subject to an obligation to leave French territory. It increased the maximum time they may be detained in a centre, by judicial decision, before the order is put into action, from 45 to 90 days.

It also created new categories of people eligible for the five-year passport talent visa concerning “employees from innovative companies” and people likely “to have a positive influence on France.”

• Honorary judge Antoine Garapon appears before the MPs for a hearing about what could be done legally following the revelations of sexual abuses within the Catholic church highlighted by an investigation commission. Mr Garapon is in charge of organising reparations for victims.

• Open questions to the government regarding the self-employed business people’s status at 15:00, followed by debate on the bill at 21:30.

January 12

• The MPs examine a report on the failures of the French prison system.

• The MPs are also hearing from members of agricultural cooperatives as part of a mission to gather and collect information to highlight the important role they play within the agriculture industry.

January 13

• Three public sessions regarding a resolution to recognise endometriosis (an often painful condition where tissue that normally lines the uterus grows elsewhere in the body) as an official long-term health condition (affection de longue durée). The proposal was made on December 6, 2021 by Clémentine Autain, member of the Regional council of Ile-de-France and the Front de gauche party.

• Three public sessions regarding a proposed law to freeze prices on energy and five seasonal fruits and vegetables. The law was proposed by La France Insoumise’s Ugo Bernalicis.

• Three public sessions on a proposed law to completely ban the use of the controversial weedkiller glyphosate in France [it is already banned for private garden use but is still in use by agricultural firms]. The law was proposed on November 30, 2021 by La France Insoumise’s Loïc Prud’homme.

• Three public sessions on a proposed law to legalise cannabis. The law was proposed on November 30, 2021 by La France Insoumise’s Eric Coquerel.

Elysée Palace

January 10

• Emmanuel Macron is visiting the Alpes-Maritimes department today (January 10). The president is expected to inaugurate a new building for several French police services.

This afternoon, he will visit the Roya valley, where 18 people died after devastating floods in October 2020.

January 13

• [Unconfirmed by Elysée] The Conseil des ministres (French cabinet) is expected to hold its usual weekly meeting this morning. It is not known if this week it will be combined with a meeting of the Conseil de défense, which deals with Covid restrictions (the next of these to be held will address the issue of possible lifting of border restrictions with the UK).

Read more: When is the next Covid meeting in France when UK rules may be eased?

Senate

January 11

• The senate is examining the vaccine pass bill, adopted by the Assemblée nationale on January 6. Under the bill, people aged 12 and over will be required to prove their vaccination status to access restaurants and bars, cultural venues, or long-distance public transport.

Also this week

January 12

• Winter sales begin in stores (the dates of these are regulated in France)

Read more: Here are France’s winter sales dates for 2022 (they are regulated)

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