Yohann Tritz, edited by Maxime Asseo
This weekend, elected officials and activists from the majority are sent to the front line in the field to tow, educate and defend the pension bill. The objective is to rally public opinion to one of the most unpopular reforms of Emmanuel Macron’s five-year term.
“They don’t stop, they take the leaflet and that’s it”, says in a weary tone, an activist of the presidential majority in the streets of Paris. This weekend, elected officials and activists were sent to the front line on the ground to tow, educate and defend the pension bill presented at a press conference last Tuesday by the Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne. The objective is to somehow rally public opinion to one of the most unpopular reforms of Emmanuel Macron’s five-year term.
“It’s humiliating and contemptuous”
59% of French people say they are “opposed” to pension reform, according to an Elabe poll for BFMTV. A figure observed in the streets of the capital: “We are coming out of the Covid, there is galloping inflation and we have chosen the worst time to carry out this reform”, criticizes a passer-by who regrets an inadequate timing. Others are ironic about the bill: “We will have had twelve reforms before I retire. The more I advance, the more we retreat.”, says a man who does not feel concerned by the reform. Some do not mince their words when they pass in front of activists in the process of towing: “It’s humiliating and contemptuous”, growls on his side a passerby.
Despite strong opposition and a difficult exercise, the negotiation remains necessary according to the activists: “it’s very interesting to talk to people because they tell you concretely what they think”, argues one of them. Despite the reluctance, the motivation and the desire remain very present. The activists will continue to tow this Sunday on another Parisian market.