Louis de Raguenel, edited by Romain Rouillard (photo credit: GONZALO FUENTES / POOL / AFP)
On the legal level, it is a victory for the executive. This Friday at the end of the afternoon, the Constitutional Council validated the essentials of the pension reform, including the postponement of the legal age of departure to 64, which crystallizes the tensions. A decision which can be seen as a relief for President Emmanuel Macron, who avoids the affront of a re-test on the flagship measure of the reform. A strong symbol, especially since, legally, no appeal is possible.
On the political level, on the other hand, it seems more accurate to speak of a half-hearted victory. If Emmanuel Macron was able to complete his reform, although partially validated, this decision of the Elders does not in any way solve the institutional situation of the country. Because the pension reform has literally atomized the French political landscape and created deep social tensions. Until leading to the blocking of his government.
A decision that should not ease tensions
From this point of view, in the short term, there will be no before or after “decision of the Constitutional Council”. The deadlock remains insofar as the president does not have more deputies and therefore still does not have an absolute majority in the Assembly.
It would then be illusory to think that this decision of the Constitutional Council will ease tensions. This evening, the left cries out in denial of democracy and places all its hopes in the examination, by the Constitutional Council, of a second referendum of shared initiative in the coming weeks. For its part, the RN gives an appointment at the polls at the next presidential election.
The inter-union refuses any meeting with the executive before May 1
At the same time, Emmanuel Macron makes no secret of his desire to enact the law as soon as possible, in the coming days. But his determination not to let go of anything risks coming up against the rebellion of the unions. The latter declined the proposal of the president who wished to receive them next Tuesday. Through the voice of Sophie Binet, secretary general of the CGT, the intersyndicale said it was opposed to any meeting before May 1. The unions want to remind the head of state that it takes two to tango. A way to show that, without the withdrawal of the law, Emmanuel Macron will continue to dance alone.