Paris (AFP)

After a week of revelations on his undeclared activities and mandates, the High Commissioner for Pensions, Jean-Paul Delevoye, presented his resignation on Monday to Emmanuel Macron, who must now replace this pillar of the executive "as soon as possible ", in the midst of a social conflict over the reform he had been carrying out for two years.

Designated in September 2017 to prepare the "universal system" promised by the Head of State, Mr. Delevoye "pays" for his "guilty lightness" and his numerous negligence in his declaration of interests, he admits in a declaration sent to AFP.

Since the first revelation of the Parisian, just a week ago, on his links with an insurance industry training institute (Ifpass), which he had called "omission by oblivion", not a day passed without rebound.

Volunteer functions at the SNCF Foundation, at the Hauts-de-France Public Order Observatory, at the French Diabetic Federation ... In all, the high commissioner had 13 mandates, including 11 volunteers.

He was also paid since mid-2016 by the IGS training group, from which he continued to collect more than 5,000 euros per month even after entering government in early September, which is prohibited by the Constitution.

"My mistake is a guilty lightness. I pay it. It is the harsh law of responsibility, exemplarity and transparency which must apply to everyone and to me in particular", recognizes today the one who never ceased to proclaim his will to "build confidence" with his reform.

Mr. Delevoye denounces in passing the "violent attacks" and the "false amalgams" which he considers to be the object.

"By instrumentalizing my trial, in reality, we want to undermine the project" of the President of the Republic, who wants to establish a "universal system" of pension by points to replace the 42 existing regimes.

"This project is essential for France. By now, I am weakening it," added the former high commissioner, whose case will be examined on Wednesday "as initially planned" by the High Authority for the Transparency of Public Life ( HATVP).

- "A mess" -

Macron had no choice but to accept "with regret" the resignation of his right-hand man, whom he had retired from in 2017 to appoint him to the nomination candidates' nomination committee before charging him with the titanic task of pension reform.

"He has decided not to hamper government action by remaining in his post," said spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye.

Welcoming his "responsibility approach", the Élysée emphasizes that Mr. Delevoye "will have the means to defend himself by leaving office" and indicates that he will be replaced "as soon as possible".

His departure falls at the worst time for the executive, entangled in a transport strike that has lasted 12 days and could continue until Christmas.

Far from appeasing the situation, announcements by Prime Minister Édouard Philippe on Wednesday strengthened the union front and tipped the CFDT into contestation: the first French union will be present at the demonstrations planned for Tuesday, for the first time since beginning of the conflict.

In this context, the resignation of "Monsieur Retraites", appreciated by the social partners whom he had consulted since his arrival, is "a mess", deplores a parliamentarian of the majority.

This kind of setback "still falls badly, but even more this week which can be decisive in the standoff between the government and the unions", adds this "walker".

The head of the LREM deputies, Gilles le Gendre, however expressed on behalf of his group "sadness and respect after the courageous decision" of Mr. Delevoye.

He had "a fairly healthy and clean reaction", declared to AFP Frédéric Sève, CFDT negotiator on pensions, who "wishes that his or his successor could be like him a true activist of the reform, such as 'it was described in the initial roadmap ".

© 2019 AFP