Paris (AFP)

The executive believes that the social conflict on pensions reached a turning point on Saturday after the withdrawal, under conditions, of the pivotal age of 64, described by Emmanuel Macron as a "constructive compromise and responsibility".

From the letter from Edouard Philippe to the social partners sent, the ministers toured the TV sets to provide after-sales service for a "solid agreement which allows us to find the way to build a pension reform", according to government spokesperson Sibeth Ndiaye.

"Everyone has made an effort," she said on BFMTV. The government has chosen to remove the pivotal age at 64 for 2027 and the reformist union organizations have agreed that we will not dissociate the reflection on the financial balance of the universal system. "

"This compromise is judged by the President of the Republic constructive and responsible," said the Elysee. Emmanuel Macron had wished for a "rapid compromise" during his wishes on December 31. "We are there ten days later, it's satisfactory," said the entourage of the head of state. Emmanuel Macron has remained "in constant contact" with Edouard Philippe since the latter received the social partners for a long time on Friday in Matignon.

"There is neither winner nor loser in a compromise, it is a formula which makes the bet of confidence, dialogue of the concertation and the responsibility of the actors", developed the entourage of the head of the State.

Long-awaited, the Prime Minister's letter, sent at the same time as opponents of the reform were once again breaking ground in most of the major cities of France, was well received by the reformist unions, including the CFDT. On the FO and CGT side, however, we continue to demand the withdrawal of the reform.

The intersyndicale called for a new inter-professional day of strikes and demonstrations on January 16. But the executive hopes to have cracked the union front definitively, on the 38th day of mobilization.

- "A false pretense" -

Often critical in recent days, the left wing of the majority, anxious to see the government quickly reconnect with the CFDT, this time hailed "a major advance", like the deputy walker Sacha Houlié.

"From the outset, the LREM deputies wanted this progressive and united reform to benefit from the support of the unions which bear its philosophy and objectives," underlined the boss of the LREM deputies Gilles Le Gendre.

The opposition, on the other hand, was much less convinced. "The pivotal age only existed in order to be able to be withdrawn and pass the pill of a reform that will precarious millions of pensioners," lambasted Marine Le Pen, denouncing a "manipulation sewn of white thread".

On the left, Olivier Faure (PS), Jean-Luc Mélenchon (LFI) and Fabien Roussel (PCF) once again demanded the outright withdrawal of the bill which must be presented to the Council of Ministers on January 24 before being discussed in the Assembly from February 17, for adoption scheduled for the summer.

"Legislate with eyes closed or negotiate on government conditions. Not admissible, said MP PS Boris Vallaud.

In the ranks of the right, we insisted on "abandoning the balanced budget" which will mean that "the French will have had strikes without the reform", according to Aurélien Pradié, N.3 of the party Les Républicains.

"All that for that! It is a false semblance of reform," said Bruno Retailleau, leader of the senators LR.

"We do not qualify this withdrawal as the element of responsibility remains, accepted by the social partners," replied the entourage of Emmanuel Macron.

"The right is screaming at renunciation. The left is screaming at stubbornness. So the agreement is good," ruled LREM MP Olivier Véran.

© 2020 AFP