The government repeats that the only solution to finance pensions is to postpone the legal age. However, within the majority, some are trying to promote other solutions.
Within the majority, a certain number are looking for additional sources of funding for pensions. Solutions which for the moment are rejected by the government. Except that the more the executive compromises, the more Matignon looses ballast to keep the support of the right and the more new funding will have to be found. Otherwise, the effect of this reform will be cancelled.
Without questioning the principle of distribution, the MoDem keeps in mind its superdividend project. Project refused by the executive. There is also among the centrists, an increase in the flat tax on capital income. Idea of MP Philippe Vigier, refused. “They dismissed it, but it will come back”, wants to believe the elected representative of Eure-et-Loir. Timing, he thinks. Even if a minister denounces “a very French Pavlovian reflex to make new taxes”.
The taboo of taboos: making retirees themselves contribute
We have understood that the government does not want to increase taxes but some in macronie allow themselves to re-examine intergenerational solidarity. With the taboo of taboos: getting retirees themselves to contribute. An idea based on an observation: on average, French retirees have a slightly higher standard of living than that of active people.
Several solutions: for example, increase the CSG (generalized social contribution) by a few points. It is the assurance of collecting hundreds of millions of euros. There too, categorical refusal from the executive who has bad memories of his last attempt in 2018. Emmanuel Macron had to back down on this subject. There is also the somewhat technical idea of shifting the calendar of pension indexation from January to April. In the event of inflation, this makes it possible to postpone the increase in pensions for a few months. An idea blown to MP Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet by the Budget Ministry itself. Sign that even Bercy is thinking about how to find money.
Again, the government refused. The government does not want to affect the purchasing power of retirees. “It’s a pirouette and every time we wanted to do stuff like that we hit it in the face like a boomerang”, deciphers a minister. For the government, increasing taxes or contributions will ultimately penalize competitiveness and employment.
So, a few days before the examination of the text in the Senate, the postponement of the legal age officially remains the only option studied. The executive is counting on the serious budget of the senators so as not to derail the bill for this reform. But it will be necessary to observe in the coming days if the pressure of the street, and now the pressure of part of the majority, cannot move certain cursors.