Discreet since the start of the examination of the pension reform in the Assembly, Emmanuel Macron spoke on Wednesday February 15 during the Council of Ministers.
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The President of the Republic pushed a rant, during the weekly meeting of ministers at the Elysée. Anger provoked by the rejection Monday evening of article 2 of the pension reform bill, the one which related to the senior index imposed on companies. A setback for the executive, inflicted by a motley majority made up of deputies from the left, right and far right. This is what pissed off the head of state. He therefore denounced, behind closed doors of the Council of Ministers, “oppositions without compass” And “totally lost” who turn away from “concerns of the French”in this case the issue of the employment of employees over 55 years of age.
Emmanuel Macron thus seeks to put the opposition parties at odds with their voters. Especially the right since LR, who advocated retirement at 65, is reluctant to approve the postponement to 64, but also the socialists who voted for the extension of the contribution period to 43 annuities, and who rallied to the return at the start at 60 years old defended by the rebellious. Emmanuel Macron also wants to press on the heterogeneity of his opponents who have therefore mixed their voices, from the left to the RN. Always the same way of calling on public opinion to show that there is no coherent alternative majority. What will also underline the motion of censure tabled by Marine Le Pen, which has no chance of succeeding since it should only be voted by RN deputies.
A president “overwhelmed” by “the small calculations” of the opposition
Breaking the silence also means taking a political risk for Emmanuel Macron. Even more on the eve of the fifth national day of mobilization, Thursday, February 16. By his function, and even his person, the Head of State crystallizes opposition. Anti-macronism is the main cement of the Nupes which has so much trouble forming its unity, including on its parliamentary strategy on pension reform.
This is the reason why he had until then left the Borne-Dussopt tandem in the front line without speaking himself. Only here, on the side of the majority it is implied that the president would be overwhelmed by “small calculations” of his opponents. And that he would cavort to fight it out in turn. At the risk of triggering a boomerang effect that restores strength and vigor to his opponents.