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On September 12, French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe outlined the timetable and method for the future pension reform. Before the Economic and Social Council, the Prime Minister assured that the government would take its time.
The Economic and Social Council (CESE) is a body little known to the French. This assembly envisaged in our Constitution brings together the social partners, the unions, the representatives of the entrepreneurs. Expressing oneself before this body is therefore symbolic, a way of cajoling what are known as the intermediary bodies who felt a little despised at the beginning of the Macron presidency.
A " long " calendar
For Act II of his five-year term, Emmanuel Macron promises concertation and humility on all levels. The head of state wants to make the pension reform emblematic reform of this act II. And the executive will take his time. No way to turn the French, to blow on the embers not quite extinct crisis of the "yellow vests".
This Thursday, September 12, Édouard Philippe has specified the calendar. Pension reform will not be adopted until next summer in Parliament. " We take the long time ," said the prime minister.
This long time, we assume it, we do not reform a system 70 years old in a few weeks, especially when we know how much this subject fascinates the French, as much as it worries them, and especially when one wants to build a new system that is designed to last 70 years and more.
Édouard Philippe 12/09/2019 - by Julien Chavanne Play
In the meantime, the social partners will co-write the bill with the government. And the French will also be heard, on the model of the big debate.
We want to consult the French directly. This is not a copy-and-paste of the big debate but we will resume the spirit of the great debate and some proven tools, such as the principle of a digital platform or the organization of public meetings around Local elected officials or associations ...
Édouard Philippe 12/09/2019 - by Julien Chavanne Play
A digital platform will be opened and citizen debates will be organized until the end of the year. Emmanuel Macron himself will launch this consultation at the end of September.
On form, the government promises to listen to the unions and the French, to take the necessary time. But basically, the executive already has a pretty clear idea of what he wants. " We do not start from scratch, " said Philippe.
The Delevoye report as a basis for work
On the table, he has the report of Jean-Paul Delevoye. The High Commissioner for Pensions has entered the government. He will lead consultations with social partners alongside the Minister of Health, Agnès Buzyn, as early as next week.
But key points remain unresolved. Are we going towards a pivotal age as Jean-Paul Delevoye wishes? Or rather towards an increase in the contribution period, option preferred by the head of state? We will know more during the coming debates. There was no news announcement. But Édouard Philippe showed some signs of flexibility for the special schemes, especially concerning the RATP and the SNCF.
A folder to take with tweezers
The RATP where a strike will block a large part of public transport tomorrow in Paris, precisely to protest against the pension reform. Édouard Philippe assured that current retirees and those close to retirement would not be affected by the reform. And that there may be extensions for certain sectors.
This " long time " also suits the government. By setting the pension reform vote in the summer of 2020, the executive is preserving itself for the municipal elections next March. The subject will be in the news, but not as much as at the time of the vote. Challenges, if any, would not disrupt the campaign of the Republic in progress (LREM). Prudence to the end for a government that advances with counted steps.