This is a first setback for the government.
Article 2 of the pension reform bill, which provided for the creation of a "
senior index
", a device aimed at promoting the hiring and retention of employees over 55, was rejected by the deputies this Tuesday evening, with 256 votes against, 203 votes for.
Despite a strong mobilization, the presidential troops failed to obtain a majority in this vote, which came after a long series of amendments from the Nupes.
The left alliance had decided to accelerate last night by withdrawing a large part of its amendments, after the call of the Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, Monday, to stop the obstruction.
The ballot was therefore decided by a few votes.
The elected representatives of Nupes and the National Rally voted against, and those of the Macron camp voted in favor.
It was the deputies of the Republicans, allies of circumstances of the government for this reform, who tipped the balance.
As of Monday evening, the LR parliamentarians had taken the floor at length to indicate their reluctance on this measure.
“
This article is a social rider, it will be censored by the Constitutional Council.
The government wants to lower the obligation to publish an index for companies with 50 employees, it is unsuitable for SMEs
”, justifies the deputy LR Thibault Bazin, responsible for this text.
Before adding: “
The senior index will not improve the employment rate of seniors.
It would be better to lay the incentive bases, such as exemptions from charges to resume seniority, facilitate and simplify gradual retirement and combined employment with retirement
”.
LRs divided on strategy
In a group meeting, a little earlier on Tuesday, the subject had divided the right-wing parliamentarians, some pleading for abstention, not wanting to rob the government, when others demanded a unanimous vote against this measure.
It was finally decided that no parliamentarian would vote for this article 2, despite the concessions made by the Prime Minister, Élisabeth Borne, a little earlier concerning long careers.
"
These two subjects were examined separately and are of a totally different nature
", explains MP LR Véronique Louwagie
The examination of the pension reform bill continues on Tuesday.
More than 12,000 amendments still remain to be studied before the end of the discussion, Friday at midnight.
But the ecologists have already announced that they will withdraw almost all their amendments preceding article 7, which concerns the postponement of the legal retirement age to 64 years.
The other Nupes groups – including the Insoumis – also reserve the right to withdraw other amendments in the coming days.