Paris (AFP)

Chef's surprise: for his pension reform, Emmanuel Macron now prefers "an agreement on the duration of contribution rather than the age" of departure and promises a new "big debate" in order to find a compromise to reduce the deficit of current system.

The case seemed settled. After weeks of cacophony in the spring, the government had decided in favor of an "age of equilibrium" which has become the symbol of the future "universal system" by points promised by Mr. Macron.

The high commissioner for pension reform, Jean-Paul Delevoye, had clarified the idea mid-July: the legal age would remain fixed at 62, but it would be necessary to work until 64 years for a pension "at full rate" .

A finding immediately rejected unanimously by the employers and the unions, CGT and FO by even the main slogan of their demonstrations scheduled for late September.

Never mind, "nothing is decided," said Monday evening the President of the Republic, wishing however that the reform "be fair in terms of contribution."

"I prefer that we find an agreement on the duration of contribution rather than age," he added, returning to his first post-"big debate".

In late April, the head of state had indeed suggested "to extend the period of contribution and to leave the free choice", with "a system of haircut that encourages to work more".

Since "the age of equilibrium" is not suitable for anyone, the subject will be put back on the agenda as early as 5 and 6 September, during talks in Matignon with the social partners. The French will also be consulted in the autumn, in a form to be determined.

"There will be a big negotiation" on the reform and it will be "more than a consultation, I want a big debate", said Mr. Macron, wishing that this project "embodies the change of method" initiated after the crisis "yellow vests".

- "No magic finance" -

This change of presidential foot has not yet moved the lines. Fiercely opposed to this reform, the CGT sees a "confirmation for employees" they will "work more to earn less in retirement".

"Nobody is fooled," says the secretary general of Force Ouvrière, Yves Veyrier, predicting that "what could appear as a less arbitrary position will lead many people to work beyond 64 years."

The employers, he continues to advocate for raising the legal age, "essential" according to the CPME, while the boss of the Medef, Geoffroy Roux de Bezieux, considers that "we (do) not make the economy and it is lying by omission to the French to say the opposite.

Only the CFDT expressed a semblance of satisfaction. "The President of the Republic said that the pivotal age was a mistake, was not a good thing in any case.So much better, it was said too, so now we will see," responded his secretary general Laurent Shepherd.

Favorable to the principle of a "universal system", the organization "is waiting for consultations with the Prime Minister next week, to see how it will move," he said.

In the team of Mr. Delevoye, it is recalled that there is already a regime "both by points and which uses the duration of contribution": the Agirc-Arrco, additional fund of the employees of the private, managed by the partners social.

The same source emphasizes that "the duration is not removed from the report" of the High Commissioner, because it would remain "necessary for a whole number of subjects, such as minimum pension, hardship and long careers".

Three themes that the CFDT intends to put back on the table at Matignon.

But the executive also has in mind the "need for funding" of the pension system, estimated at 10 billion euros by 2022, while the reform must come into force in 2025.

The head of state has made a constraint, asking "that our regime, when it comes (ra) in force in 2025, be balanced financially" because "there is no magic finance, there is always someone one who pays.

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