Finally a resolution of the conflict over the pension reform? Prime Minister Édouard Philippe has promised to deliver concrete announcements on Saturday, January 11, to move towards a way out of the crisis. Determined to keep up the pressure, the unions called for a new day of mobilization all over France.

Joint demonstration by unions and yellow vests

In Paris, the demonstration started shortly after 2 p.m. from Place de la Nation towards that of the Republic, joined by several hundred yellow vests, AFP journalists noted.

World, united and combative to nation !! Come all of you! #EducEnGreve pic.twitter.com/ryt3bFbgGm

- SNES / FSU CRETEIL (@SnesFsuCreteil) January 11, 2020

Several thousand demonstrators began to parade behind a banner "Points retreat, all losers! Retirement at 60, all winners!", And under the flags and balloons of the organizations of the inter-union CGT-FO-FSU-Solidaires and youth organizations.

Several hundred yellow vests, which left late in the morning from the François Mitterrand bridge, were placed at the head of the procession, with banners and wreaths of flowers in tribute to the delivery man who died after being arrested by the police, Cédric Chouviat. Among the slogans: "Castaner in hell", "Macron resignation".

Philippe Martinez, the leader of the CGT, at the forefront of the mobilization against the reform, reiterated before the press before the departure of the procession that his organization had "not changed its mind" after 5 weeks of conflict. He castigated a bill that "nobody understands" and many aspects of which "will be settled by decrees". "Can we trust a government that says: I will settle everything afterwards?".

Will Edouard Philippe announce the "basis for a compromise"?

Édouard Philippe undertook Friday, at the end of a new day of bilateral marathon with the social partners, to address to the trade union and employers' organizations "in writing concrete proposals" which could form "the basis of a compromise".

Tomorrow, I will address to the trade unions and employers' organizations concrete proposals which could be the basis of this compromise. They will relate in particular to the objectives and modalities of the funding conference. #retraites https://t.co/H0LSCZOsR2

- Edouard Philippe (@EPhilippePM) January 10, 2020

The government is eagerly awaited on the pivotal age - or "age of equilibrium" - which the CFDT categorically opposes. The support of the first union in France, favorable to a universal points system, seems essential to break the 5 week deadlock.

"It is a blind measure that has no place in the bill," said Friday Laurent Laurent, the boss of the CFDT, noting however "a desire for openness" on the part of the Prime Minister .

This age of balance, which should gradually encourage the French to leave at 64 in 2027, under penalty of being inflicted a penalty, is 39 times in the bill sent Thursday to the social partners.

The Prime Minister reiterated Friday "the determination of the government" to present this project of "universal" pension system on January 24 in the Council of Ministers and to submit it to the examination in public session in the National Assembly from 17 February so that it can be adopted before the summer.

On Friday, for the first time, the government released its estimate of expected savings from the pivotal age, 3 billion euros in 2022 and 12 billion in 2027.

With AFP

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