" What is happening ?
Is there a famous actor coming?
Outside the Watteau theater in Nogent-sur-Marne (Val-de-Marne), residents are intrigued by the massive deployment of police, including a team of deminers, on this cool and rainy Wednesday evening.
Law enforcement is screening entries.
"Do you have an invitation?"
“, they ask the curious.
It is, however, in theory, a simple “militant meeting” on pensions (on prior registration) which must begin in this cultural facility.
An initiative of the Renaissance MP for the Mathieu Lefèvre constituency, a close friend of Gérald Darmanin.
Except that, first surprise, around 7:30 p.m., the Minister of Labor Olivier Dussopt appeared.
At the microphone, on this eve of social mobilization, he alerts the audience – nearly 80 people, including a large part of business executives and Macronist activists – to the “fake news” which circulates and which deceives, deplores-t he, demonstrators “in good faith”.
Then he goes into many details of the reform.
"Thank you for your pedagogical work", says Lefèvre to him.
Half an hour passes, when a happening takes place.
“We made you a surprise, then smiles Olivier Dussopt.
As I am afraid of not being strong enough, we brought in Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne”.
"We do not undertake a pension reform for pleasure"
Hustle and bustle in the room, while the occupant of Matignon – who is coming out of a working meeting at the Élysée on another subject – makes her way to join her Minister of Labor.
These are the two main architects of the text presented Monday in the Council of Ministers, side by side.
“We do not undertake a pension reform for pleasure.
The system is in danger,” she begins.
“I'm not satisfied with hearing young people say they won't have a pension,” continues Borne.
The audience listens to him.
In this room with black walls, where bodyguards are legion, she preaches to the convinced.
Here, a participant welcomes a “balanced reform”.
A lady asks if she could not give a few extra quarters, because she has worked a lot, to other people.
“The reform will allow it?
Who wants some ?
".
Laughter in the room.
A member of "youth with Macron" wants to know if the pension reform will not discourage some students from embarking on long courses.
Robin, a self-described “early walker,” touts “needed reform.”
"Coming here allows you to measure what is understood"
In turn, Élisabeth Borne and Olivier Dussopt look at certain routes: what about tobacconists, air traffic controllers, prison guards who have become customs officers?
For the latter, what would be the portability of rights?
The dialogue becomes frankly technical.
Far from the vehement jousts of TV sets… On the work of seniors, the Prime Minister insists that “we must change the mindset in companies”.
Around 10:00 p.m., the meeting adjourned.
Before leaving, off the microphone, the Prime Minister slips that she will no doubt repeat interventions of this kind, because this reform embraces “a sum of personal cases”.
"Coming here allows you to measure what is understood and what still needs to be explained," said the Prime Minister, who has also urged members of her government to do the same, by going to public meetings.
Useful to move the lines in public opinion?
An elected Macronist has few illusions: “It is important to explain but there are people with whom the rejection is so total that the dialogue cannot, of course, be fruitful”.
Then, the ministerial convoy returns at high speed to the capital.
For a vigil of arms.
Nogent-sur-Marne (94), January 18, 2023. Activist meeting with Olivier Dussopt (Minister of Labour, Employment and Integration of France), on the eve of the anti-retirement social movement.
LP / Fred Dugit LP / Fred Dugit
