The UMP Group found total consistency he assured

The UMP Group met exceptionally, yesterday, to try to clarify its position on Suez-GDF before the August recess: he gave the image of extreme confusion. Of course, it appears that the number of members of Parliament hostile to the fusion project defended by two companies and the Government is somewhat reduces current July. Some elected officials until then hesitant or hostile, as Chirac supporter Jean-Michel Dubernard and relatives of Jean-Pierre Raffarin Marc Laffineur, Marie-Anne Montchamp, Axel Poniatowski and Alain Gest have indicated that they support the Bill to be discussed at a special session from September 7. After early June that there was no majority vote the text, Bernard Accoyer, President of the group in the Assembly, he said midday that there was now "a very large majority of MEPs UMP to support the project", of the order of three quarters. Yesterday evening, Patrick Ollier, Chair of the Committee on Economic Affairs, found that all the questions were now "purged". "The UMP Group found total consistency", he assured.

So far, part still seems very close and these assessments are widely disputed, particularly on the sarkozystes. In reality, these past 24 hours, the twists and contradictory statements have multiplied, showing the embarrassment of the majority on this issue a few months of the presidential election. The rapporteur of the Committee on Economic Affairs, Jean-Claude Lenoir, yesterday presented an alternative to the merger Suez-GDF providing for a partial privatization of GDF. Was it inspired by Nicolas Sarkozy, as stated in some, or "born of his imagination", as he contends himself Still, is it that the proposal was immediately extended by the Government, Suez, GDF and the unions. Suez was reaffirmed in the evening the total merger with gas of France is "the unique project" negotiated between the two companies.

What is the game of Nicolas Sarkozy This is another large query. Yesterday, Bernard Accoyer assured having, in a telephone conversation with the President of the UMP, his support of the merger. Others argue that it is would be similarly committed to Jacques Chirac to support the text in September. But his entourage is more measured. Nicolas Sarkozy, who does not want to give the feeling after the CEP, torpedoing a project of Dominique de Villepin, has never opposed the project, neither yesterday nor in previous weeks. But he has always liked in private never not speaking publicly that are studied all possible alternatives to the merger, his fear that he is accused of having breached his word: in 2004, it was he, as Minister of the economy, which was committed to that the State retains at least 70 of the capital of SFM.

The visit of 230 members

In the end, the situation remains politically very complex. The Elysee Palace, the President of the UMP and some parliamentarians are still seeking a compromise solution. The Prime Minister himself is cautious, now recognizing that "all good ideas must be explored to provide the best answers to employees and consumers across the country." At Bercy, it wants to believe that the episode Lenoir is already exceeded. "Ranks are very tight, UMP deputies return to reasonable positions and our latest counts, there will be a majority to vote the text to back", explained yesterday evening the entourage of Thierry Breton. It must be said that in a month the Minister of the economy will be received in his Office not less 230 members. Everyone will now go on holiday. And, in return, each will be on his desk a Suez-GDF file still very open.