Deputy criticizes Senate amendments

Deputy Mereana Reid-Arbelot expressed disappointment and anger after leaving the Senate session, where her bill on equal access to healthcare for overseas citizens was being reviewed. The bill, which had passed its first reading in the National Assembly, was amended in the Senate and later modified in plenary by Senator Lana Tetuanui.

Amendments alter bill's path

The amendments aimed to make an electronic identifier device—similar to a health insurance card—more technically effective in addressing issues faced by overseas citizens on the mainland. These changes have sent the bill back to the National Assembly for a second reading, but its progress is being delayed by pending votes on the 2027 finance bill, social issues, and upcoming elections.

Deputy concerned about bill's substance

Mereana Reid-Arbelot had previously criticized the Senate committee's amendments, saying they had "emptied the text of its substance." She was especially upset that the bill, meant to guarantee equal healthcare access, was now being sent back for further review. The original proposal aimed to simplify procedures for students, workers, and patients traveling within the national territory.

Deputy voices frustration on social media

On social media, Reid-Arbelot shared her frustration, saying, "So our senator wanted to put her touch on the text. It had to have her mark. (...) Well, we no longer have a text." She argued that the changes had created a bottleneck that might prevent the National Assembly from studying the bill. "I am very sad and confused. Now it may be politics, but for me that is not what politics is. Real politics is the one that takes care of its citizens."

Senate defends its role in the process

In response, Lana Tetuanui and Édouard Fritch issued a press release stating that the Senate is not merely a chamber for recording a deputy's wishes but must fully contribute to the drafting of the law. They emphasized that the Senate's amendments aimed to make the electronic identifier more effective and better suited for implementation. They also noted that the bill's implementation date was moved forward to January 2028 instead of 2030.