The mother of reforms - or battles - is launched.
By presenting on Tuesday the pension reform promised by Emmanuel Macron during the presidential campaign, Elisabeth Borne opened the site which will probably be the most perilous that she will have to carry out.
In the past, all similar reforms have provoked major social movements.
"I am well aware that this is not neutral for anyone, but for the future of our pay-as-you-go pension system, we propose that those who can work progressively longer
," said the Prime Minister during a solemn press conference organized in Paris.
In 2030, the legal retirement age will reach 64 years.
For three months a year, starting September 1st.
At his side were the Minister of Labor, Olivier Dussopt, who will bring the text to Parliament, the boss of Bercy, Bruno Le Maire, who plans to invest politically to bring the reform, and Stanislas Guerini, the Minister of the Function public, while
"most of the existing special regimes"
are going to be
"closed"
.
Meeting with the public
Macronie, who had remained on his failure of 2019, now has an appointment with public opinion.
An overwhelming majority of French people are hostile to this reform, according to all the surveys published in recent months.
The consultations carried out since the end of the summer have resulted… in the formation of a large trade union front that has not been seen for more than a decade.
A first day of mobilization is scheduled for January 19.
However, the government's project is
"better than it was six months ago"
, welcomed Elisabeth Borne.
While trade unions and left-wing parties are up in arms against the shift in the legal retirement age, the head of government spoke
of "a justice project that brings social progress"
through measures for long careers and arduous work.
Bruno Le Maire affirmed that the reform
“will bring 17.7 billion euros”
to the pension funds in 2030.
“Each euro counts for a State which has (nearly) 3000 billion euros in debt”
, a-t -he says.
Asking the French to work more before retiring,
"majorities, on the right and on the left, did it before us"
, pleaded Élisabeth Borne, referring to the reforms of the socialist Marisol Touraine in 2014, of the Sarkozyist Éric Woerth in 2010, or François Fillon in 2003. But it is only on Les Républicains that she should be able to rely this time.
The president of the party, Éric Ciotti, opened the door to a favorable vote by agreeing on the question of the revaluation of the pensions of current retirees.
The reform presented by Elisabeth Borne provides for an increase in the minimum pension to 85% of the net minimum wage – or 1200 euros gross currently – for full careers and current beneficiaries.
Read alsoThe retirement age in France is one of the lowest in Europe
"We are ready to further develop our project,"
said the Prime Minister who made the wish for a
"loyal and constructive parliamentary debate".
But already La France insoumise promises to take to the streets and to multiply the blows of brilliance in the Hemicycle.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon immediately denounced
“a serious social regression”,
he who still brandishes the symbol of retirement at 60 years old.
Like the socialist Olivier Faure.
A
"demagogic" measure,
replied Elisabeth Borne, who sees the risk
of "further aggravating"
the deficits
.
Marine Le Pen is not to be outdone, promising to
“stop this unjust reform”.
“The confrontation of ideas can be done without disinformation, without stirring up fears”,
has already advanced the head of government, who knows that the battle of opinion will be more difficult than the confrontation in Parliament.
Anticipate blockages
To convince the French, the executive will have to impose a story when the purpose of its reform has not always been very clear.
“Each euro will be used to finance our pensions, nothing else”
, insisted Elisabeth Borne, when the candidate Macron first mentioned the resources to be released to finance the ecological transition or the improvement of public services.
Politically, the majority is organizing to face the processions and various and varied blockages which await the country.
"Deputies and ministers, it's up to us to invade all spaces
," said Sylvain Maillard, vice-president of the Renaissance group in the National Assembly.
The leader of the Macronist deputies Aurore Bergé wants
"an offensive"
.
The Budget Minister, Gabriel Attal, should also be deployed in the coming days.
While the government spokesman, Olivier Véran, will go to a company in Yvelines on Wednesday to discuss with the employees.
This
"moment of truth"
, to use the words of Elisabeth Borne, will be decisive for the continuation of her lease at Matignon.
Appointed almost eight months ago with the fear that she would not be political enough, the Prime Minister has an opportunity to demonstrate her capacity for resistance.