The Senate counts no elected officials from La France Insoumise and only three from the National Rally. The vast majority of The Republicans senators, the largest political force in the Palace of Luxembourg, voted in favor, despite six oppositions and four abstentions.
After the National Assembly on Tuesday, the Senate largely approved on Wednesday the security agreement between France and Ukraine, despite some reservations in the upper house where the presidential camp is very much in the minority. Senators voted 293 to 22 in favor of the French strategy to support Kiev in a non-binding vote.
In a chamber that has no elected officials from La France Insoumise and only three from the National Rally, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal’s statement did not lead to as lively debates as in the National Assembly, where the National Rally abstained while La France Insoumise voted against. The vast majority of Republicans senators, the largest political force in the Palace of Luxembourg, voted for, despite six oppositions and four abstentions. Only the Communist group voted against.
“Our vote is a vote of support for Ukraine,” said Bruneau Retailleau.
In a relatively empty chamber, the controversial statements of President Emmanuel Macron on the possibility of sending Western troops to the ground were at the heart of the speeches. The leader of The Republicans in the Senate, Bruno Retailleau, warned about isolating France, dividing, and bewildering allies. “Our vote is a vote of support for Ukraine, not for the government,” he added.
On the government’s side, Gabriel Attal maintained the government’s stance, stating, “We do not set limits in the face of a Russia that sets none.” Philippe Folliot regretted the lack of precision in the statement, while Rachid Temal called for a review of the military programming law to take exceptional measures for ammunition production. The communist Cécile Cukierman criticized a defense treaty marked by a worrying absence of clear limits on military cooperation and a France “ridiculed” by the presidential position.
The agreement with Ukraine, valid for ten years, includes strengthening military cooperation, especially in the areas of artillery and air defense. Emmanuel Macron will address the Ukraine issue on Thursday in the 8pm news on TF1 and France 2.
