Hard blow for the executive. The National Assembly rejected Wednesday at first reading the controversial reform of nuclear safety, some voices of the majority joining the left to oppose the "dismantling" of the Institute dedicated to safety (IRSN).

The executive would like to merge the Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), a technical expert, within the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN), the policeman of the power plants. But the deputies approved by show of hands an amendment by Benjamin Saint-Huile, of the independent group Liot, to preserve a "dual organization" between the Institute and the Safety Authority, unravelling all of this sensitive article of the bill to revive nuclear power.

However, the subject is not closed. The government can still resort to a second deliberation. IRSN employees are cautious. "I'm very happy, but I'm wary of my joy because it's not won yet. The government must listen to this rejection, "says François Jeffroy, representative of the interunion. On Monday, during a third day of strike, hundreds of IRSN employees marched near the Assembly, with slogans such as "IRSN dismantled, nuclear safety sold off".

The left denounces a botched reform

In the hemicycle, the left protested against the "precipitation" of a reform "à la hussarde", a "dangerous proposal" according to ecologist and former minister Delphine Batho. It is a "dismantling in order. We need this independence of research, within IRSN," insisted the Insoumise Aurélie Trouvé. Some votes of the majority, including the former minister Barbara Pompili (Renaissance), have also risen to the niche.

The disappearance of IRSN was decided during a "nuclear policy council" around Emmanuel Macron on February 3. It was announced on 8 February and then introduced by a simple amendment adopted in committee in the Assembly.

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