Opposition MPs boycott assembly

OPPOSITION MPs boycotted a government question time session in the National Assembly yesterday, for the first time since 1974.

Prime Minister François Fillon found himself facing a half-empty house, after Socialists protested at the curtailment of a debate on parliamentary reform the previous evening.

Government MPs are seeking to change an article that allows MPs to propose ammendments to legislation that they say is being abused by the opposition to delay reform.

Last year the debate on public broadcasting reform took several weeks after the opposition tabled 800 amendments – throwing out the remainder of the government’s legislative timetable for 2008.

Fifteen people were still expecting to speak on during the parliamentay reform debate on Tuesday evening – including one MP who wanted to propose a compromise, exempting a limited number of bills from the proposed limits each year - when the halt was called.

Uproar ensued and the Socialist MPs ended up belting out the Marsellaise in protest.

The following day the boycott was organised, however Green and Communist Opposition members remained.

Communist MP Alain Bocquet accused the government of wanting to “gag” parliament.

The parliamentary reforms will be subject to a final vote on January 27.
Photo:Afp
Watch how the reform debate collapsed below.