Calls for mobilization, with strikes and demonstrations. This is what the unions promise if the executive passes in force on the pension reform. Clearly, if the government uses a budget text this fall to modify the age conditions.
Thus, if on the financial balance of the pension system, the unions believe that there is no fire in the lake, on the age measure, they are all unanimously against – including the CFDT – that it whether the postponement of the legal age or the increase in the contribution period. A call for mobilization has already been launched for September 29.
>> Pensions: the government is studying “all avenues” to have its reform adopted
The urgency, for the unions, is to tackle the employment difficulties of seniors and to arrange the end of careers, to also work on hardship and long careers. Not to impose a brutal measure from the outset, in opposition to the method put forward by Emmanuel Macron.
The President of the Republic has also tried to calm things down, promising social consultation and the search for compromises, while his Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne does not exclude the use of Article 49.3 of the constitution. But, Saturday September 17, François Bayrou, at the head of the national council of the refoundation, opposed “to a forced passage”, highlighting the divisions within the majority. The boss of the Modem refuses a vote on pension reform in the social security budget.
His warning, however, should not be a game changer. In any case, this is what we swear within the executive. “He asserts his position, and we listen to all positions”, we underline around Elisabeth Borne. In other words, not only that of François Bayrou. The mayor of Pau has already had the opportunity to express his way of thinking to the Prime Minister last week during the breakfast of the majority executives.
With this public release in the press, strong words, the objective was to put pressure on the Head of State and his Prime Minister. “Our line is gaining groundbelieves an elected MoDem. At Renaissance there is the fear of reigniting a social crisis which will cost the country much more. And this is where there is divergence in the majority. “This reform, nobody wants itrecognizes the adviser of an important minister. But you have to do it, so you might as well go fast.” This is also what some believe to understand of the state of mind of Emmanuel Macron. Last week, this question – rhetorical – was put to the deputies of the majority members of the Finance Committee that the president received at the Élysée: “Do you think our fellow citizens will be more ready in four or five months? The answer is no.”
The Prime Minister will spend her beginning of the week trying to find the path wanted by Emmanuel Macron. Elisabeth Borne will have a series of appointments with her Ministers of Economy, Labor and Public Accounts. She will also sound out the presidents of all the parliamentary groups. It will be Wednesday, September 21 at Matignon, even if officially it will not just be about talking about pensions.
Even if the positions on the subject are already well known, it is above all a question of showing that the new method, the dialogue, so advocated by the President of the Republic, continues. Despite the contrast with the temptation to force through the pension reform, enough to fuel potential criticism of the return of presidential verticality, this may be the price to pay to avoid a lawsuit in immobility.