“The status quo is not possible” on pension reform, which is “essential”, said Senate President LR Gérard Larcher on Thursday, criticizing the government for being “rather confused” on the subject.
“We know that the status quo is not possible. Reform is essential,” Larcher told France 2.
“The government so far has not committed much, and it is even rather confused,” he said. “We are one week away from tabling the Social Security financing bill (PLFSS), and we still do not know if it will introduce the elements of the pension reform” in this text or “if it is preparing a ad hoc text.
“It is the government that must make the choice, it is he who proposes, he also has the absolute weapon which is called 49-3 vis-à-vis the National Assembly”, underlined the president of the Senate, dominated by the right-wing opposition.
“In any case in the Senate, we will assume our responsibilities,” promised Mr. Larcher, recalling that the senatorial majority voted three years ago for an amendment to the PLFSS to extend working hours.
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Former Minister of Labour, Mr. Larcher also affirmed that “social dialogue remains an important element”. “I would like to see it in action,” he said, adding that the pension reform is “a life-size test (…) just like the reform of unemployment insurance”.