French MP Jérôme Lambert: This Is a Vote That Is Not Binding On the Government And Far From Representing the Majority
In a statement to Azerbaijan in Focus, Jérôme Lambert, Member of French National Assembly, Vice-President of the France-Azerbaijan Friendship Group at the National Assembly has expressed his reaction to motion for a resolution on the recognition of the “Republic of Artsakh” voted on 3 December 2020 at the French National Assembly.
“This is a vote that is not binding on the government. This resolution was adopted by 188 out of 577 Members of Parliament. 350 deputies were absent from the hemicycle, they did not vote, did not voice their opinions. This is far from representing the majority.
“There was a lot of pressure from the political parties until the last moment. As for the Socialist Party, which I represent, 13 out of 29 voted, including 2 abstentions and me, against.
“Only the supporters of Armenia spoke in the tribune. Neither I nor any other opponent was able to speak because only the political groups gave the floor. All the political groups spoke only in favor of the Armenian side. They allowed only those MPs who were in favour of the resolution’s text. They controlled possible opponents. All the allowed voices were in favor of the right-wing resolution. No opponents were allowed to speak. Nice demonstration in the National Assembly of the freedom of expression! All lies were heard.”