This Thursday when he was challenged on pensions and the future of the group by a hundred employees during his visit to the nuclear power plant of Golfech, in the Tarn-et-Garonne, Luc Rémont, the CEO of EDF was at light years to suspect the pitched battle that took place in the National Assembly which ended up adopting an opposition text against the risks of “dismantling” EDF. MP Philippe Brun’s bill was adopted at first instance with 205 votes to 1, against the opinion of the government and the deputies of the presidential camp, who had deserted the hemicycle before the vote to denounce a ” masquerade”, in the words of Aurore Bergé, the head of the Renaissance deputies in the Assembly. The proposal will now have to be considered in the Senate.

To the rescue of nuclear power, the Livret A will preserve social housing

An additional cost estimated at 18 billion euros by the government

It all started with a legal dispute over a measure added by the left in its EDF bill: a “specific TPE (very small businesses) tariff shield” to help bakers and other artisans to meet their electricity bill. . No legal link with the text and contrary to the Constitution, hammered the presidential camp, because the proposal adds a financial burden for the State, estimated at 18 billion euros by the Minister of Industry Roland Lescure. Arguments contested by the chairman of the Finance Committee Eric Coquerel (LFI) and the rapporteur Philippe Brun (PS).

Suspensions of sittings and points of order have multiplied. When one of them resumed, Aurore Bergé announced that the presidential majority would no longer participate in the debates. The Macronist deputies therefore left the hemicycle, leaving the way open for adoption of the text. Philippe Brun’s text wants a “real nationalization” of EDF and to prevent any risk of “dismemberment”. In committee, he had his text adopted by a coalition of opposition deputies, including from the right.

The State holds more than 95% of the capital

The bill is being examined at a time when the state is already trying to carry out a public takeover bid (OPA) intended to renationalise the electricity giant. Bercy argued Wednesday that the state held “95.82% of the capital”, the rest of the operation being suspended to a decision of the Paris Court of Appeal on the appeal of certain minority shareholders. The hearing is scheduled for March 23 and the decision is due by May 2.

For Philippe Brun, the OPA leaves the possibility of “dismantling” the group, suspecting the executive of not having given up on a controversial restructuring project involving the separation of nuclear, hydroelectric and renewable activities.