The reform of the **municipal election** for **Paris**, **Lyon**, and **Marseille** has faced significant hurdles in the **Senate**, where it was overwhelmingly rejected on May 21 by the law committee. Initially adopted by the National Assembly in early April, just a year before the **municipal elections**, the bill spearheaded by **Renaissance** elected officials now faces a challenging landscape in the upper chamber. The predominant groups in the Senate, namely the **Republicans (LR)** and the **Socialist Party**, are largely opposed. The rejection in the law committee was unanimous, signaling a formidable obstacle for the reform advocates.
The National Assembly had garnered support from various factions including the **National Rally (RN)** and **Insoumise France (LFI)**, along with a majority of the government coalition. However, the RN holds a limited number of seats in the **Senate**, complicating prospects for the reform. The committee rejection raises concerns regarding the upcoming discussions in the **hemicycle** on June 3, where potential amendments may be proposed to alter or narrow the scope of the bill.
“Without any Consultation”
Despite the Senate’s rejection, a complete dismissal of the reform is not assured. The government possesses certain strategies to facilitate success, such as providing the **National Assembly** with the final say, although this may delay the legislative process. The **Minister for Parliamentary Relations**, Patrick Mignola (MoDem), had previously stated that the reform would be achieved through **consensus** or not at all. He emphasized, “We will not force the Senate,” indicating the need for cooperative dialogue.
“Poorly prepared, without any consultation, this bill presents various difficulties, both from a **democratic** and **legal** perspective, and even raises **constitutional** questions, all without reaching the intended goals of standardizing and simplifying the elections,” noted Lauriane Josende, the LR rapporteur of the bill, as she justified the committee’s rejection. **Mathieu Darnaud**, the leader of the LR Senators, lamented the absence of an **impact study**, questioning the wisdom of overhauling the voting system less than a year prior to the municipal elections.
The proposed legislation aims to abolish the voting system established in **1982**, wherein voters in Paris, Lyon, and Marseille elect advisers from their districts. Instead, the bill suggests a dual election system: one to select borough or sector advisers and another for the municipal council, all within a single district framework. This substantial change aims to streamline the electoral process but has raised concerns among various political factions and experts.