It's a little music that is circulating more and more: put aside since the start of the health crisis, the pension reform could make a big comeback in the coming months.
In recent weeks, several government figures have spoken out in favor of resuming this reform, which is contested by the social partners.
Read also: Pensions: Emmanuel Macron wants to relaunch the reform
Most recently, the spokesperson for the executive, Gabriel Attal, assured our colleagues from Les Échos that "
there will be a pension reform
". The only unknown is the timing, he adds, “in
the fall or next year
”. The health crisis has weighed on the state's portfolio, and it is more important than ever to work longer to clean up the accounts and strengthen the pension system, explains Gabriel Attal.
Emmanuel Macron should meet the social partners again "
in July
", recalls the spokesperson.
Then, "
if the economic revival is confirmed this summer and at the start of the school year and the epidemic situation is under control, it is possible to act and start a movement,
" he notes.
Read also: From the presentation to the dead end: the pension reform in 6 steps
Saying that he understands the reservations of the social partners, the government representative considers that a "
political decision
" must be taken on this explosive issue: "
we will take it, in particular depending on the epidemic and the extent of the resumption of the disease. 'economy
', he explains.
France's competitiveness is at stake, argues the spokesperson: “
all the other countries are embarking on reforms and a race for recovery.
Stopping us means taking the risk of dropping out even though the economy is picking up strongly and we are the most attractive country for foreign investment
”.
Economic and health uncertainties
On LCI, this Thursday morning, the spokesperson reiterated the government's determination in this matter.
The reform “
will take place
”, he asserted, and the transformations “
will continue and increase by the end of the five-year term
”.
The reform can be "
launched as soon as possible
", but this will therefore depend on the economic and health context.
To read also: "Double or double pensions"
Many uncertainties therefore hover: first, the Delta variant comes to disturb a summer which hitherto promised to be rather calm, on the epidemic level.
Voices are already warning against a fourth wave, at the start of the school year, if the vaccination campaign does not accelerate in the weeks to come.
Then, on the economic side, the Council of State recently underlined that "
the uncertainties about the economic situation
" justified not applying the new unemployment insurance rules on July 1 ... The executive prefers to put forward an improvement on the economic front: "
activity is picking up again, hiring is very dynamic
", reacted Élisabeth Borne.
Conflict in sight
Gabriel Attal is not the only one to vote for a return to reform.
It is "inescapable", judged a few days ago François Bayrou, when Bruno Le Maire called not to "
postpone until tomorrow what we can do today
".
In our columns, Jean Castex was more cautious: "
We must do it, but we must also choose the right time
, estimated the Prime Minister
.
We have to ask ourselves the question of the interests of France, first of all, but also of the social and psychological situation of French people coming out of the crisis ”.
To read also: Pension reform: "Indispensable!"
Still, the social partners are up against a return of the file on the table at the start of the school year. The employers are worried about a social movement which could paralyze a France weakened by long months of health crisis, and the unions assure that their determination is intact. In a joint press release on Thursday, the CGT, the union union Solidaires, FO, the FSU and youth organizations call for a "
definitive abandonment of the counter-reforms of pensions and unemployment insurance
". The signatories "
intend to issue a warning to the government and the employers
", and announce an inter-union on August 30. The land is therefore mined.