Yesterday, 1.5 million protesters marched through the streets of France according to the CGT, 800,000 according to the Ministry of the Interior, all this combined with a transport network at a standstill. On this day, the government wanted to play serenity. "The mobilization corresponds to what we had anticipated," says one to Matignon, where there is no question of showing the least concern after the demonstrations yesterday, let alone minimize. Édouard Philippe even "paid tribute" to the unions which, according to him, have "well organized the demonstrations".
"In a conflict, you have to have allies"
Let the mobilizations take place therefore, while reaching out to the unions: here is the strategy to prepare the continuation. "In a conflict, you have to have allies," said a minister. The government could therefore make a gesture towards the CFDT by renouncing the goal of balance of the regime in 2025. The executive also leaves to the concertation the duration of the transition phases, the arduousness or the multiple employment retreats.
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The discussions are still going on today, before the last rigging. Édouard Philippe will then present the overall architecture of the reform next week, including if the strike continues according to his entourage. Emmanuel Macron, who for the moment leaves his prime minister in the front line, does not rule out speaking afterwards.