The majestic 4-meter-high fir tree still sits in the vestibule of the Hôtel du Châtelet, which houses the Ministry of Labour. Each time Olivier Dussopt passes by, the Minister casts an eye at the graying thorns which sag under the weight of the golden globes. And to think that the pension reform project was already mature when the Christmas tree shone, at the beginning of December 2022… Its presentation had been postponed to January 10 to save the end of year celebrations.
Now is the time to weather the storm. For a power in place, “It’s never fun”agreed the spokesman of the government, Olivier Véran, Wednesday, January 4, after the first council of ministers of the year.
Shortly before, Emmanuel Macron had made himself gloomy by calling on the government to “do not give in to the professionals of fear” and to “The Conjuring of Sad Spirits”while the head of government, Elisabeth Borne, asked the ministers to “resist headwinds”. The day before at Matignon, she herself, Olivier Dussopt and the boss of the CFDT, Laurent Berger, reviewed the ballet which is about to open, with its threats and its red lines, and which, basically, no one wants really.
Nobody, except Emmanuel Macron. The Head of State intends to hang the cursed reform on the table for his second five-year term and keep the reformist habit he claims. With the ambition of “continue to transform our country in the face of corporatism” Where “to the temptation of the spirit of defeat”, he insisted in his wishes to the French. On Wednesday, the president re-elected eight months ago asked Elisabeth Borne and his ministers to “boldness”. The latter are preparing to unveil a reform without surprise or upheaval: it is a question of keeping the system afloat, not of rebuilding it.
Preserving employment and competitiveness
Until the end, the head of government will have wanted to play the consultation, in a renewed choreography of appointments at Matignon with the unions and the political leaders. Three months of discussions punctuated by two Elysian dinners, where the Head of State gauged the balance within his camp and, between oysters and cheese, decided on how to proceed. The time to find close common ground with the social partners on counterparties, such as hardship or the minimum pension at 85% of the minimum wage.
The government has thus focused the public debate sometimes on the method – amendment to the Social Security budget or separate bill? Use of 49.3 or parliamentary vote? – sometimes on the age to reach to receive a full pension. The two heads of the executive mentioned either 65 years or 64 years coupled with the acceleration of the Touraine reform – it brings the contribution period to forty-three years by 2035.
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