“When we have such an essential reform, (…) we make sure that it passes”, underlines Bruno Le Maire

Despite the support of a large part of the Republicans, the text of the pension reform was not voted on Thursday, March 16. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has activated article 49-3 for the eleventh time since the start of Emmanuel Macron’s second five-year term. Unauthorized demonstrations have Since place everywhere in France. Saturday March 18, 169 people were arrested throughout France. The Minister condemns the incidents, and recalls that “in a rule of law, force must remain with the law, never with violence“.

For Bruno Le Maire, “the government kept listening”. How does he then explain the passage in force with the help of the 49-3? “I think that when we have such an essential reform, (…) we don’t play a coin toss. We make sure it passes“, comments the minister. He then castigates the NUPES, which according to him has “ceased to use parliamentary means to block debate and prevent the vote on Article 7“.

Financial reform?

Emmanuel Macron justifies the use of 49-3 by the presence of too great financial and economic risks for the country. “What I fear is that we throw our money out the window”, says Bruno Le Maire, who recalls that the public debt of France is approaching 3,000 billion. Is this reform ultimately, as the NUPES denounced, a reform that is more financial than social? “Yes, this reform also has a financial character“, admits Bruno Le Maire.

Regarding the remarks of a deputy to whom Bruno Le Maire would have promised help in his constituency in exchange for a vote, the minister assures us that this is a “lie“, specifying that he will not file a complaint, the latter having returned to his remarks.

The continuation of Emmanuel Macron’s five-year term therefore promises to be complicated for the entire executive. According to the Minister of Economy and Finance, the place of the Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, is however not threatened. “I don’t think she’s in danger, and I don’t want her to be“, comments Bruno Le Maire.