Paris (AFP)

The subject of an exceptionally long social conflict, the pension reform promised by Emmanuel Macron was presented to the Council of Ministers on Friday, the day chosen by his opponents for a 7th day of strikes and demonstrations, the culmination of a week of punch actions.

"It's day or never": for Philippe Martinez, the challenge is in keeping with the symbol. The secretary general of the CGT has sworn to "hold until the withdrawal" of the reform, but once the text adopted in the Council of Ministers, it will be up to Parliament to decide.

On the 51st day of the movement started on December 5, the inter-union (CGT, FO, CFE-CGC, Solidaires, FSU and youth organizations) hopes "maximum mobilization" and plans to "continue and amplify actions".

The day will then be punctuated by numerous events throughout France. In the capital, the procession must start at 11:00 a.m. from Place de la République to that of Concorde, where it will not be dispersed before 7:00 p.m.

Anticipating possible "violence and degradations", the prefect of police Didier Lallement said that he "would mobilize significant human and material resources", while calling "to the responsibility of everyone" to avoid such incidents.

"We must stop stigmatizing the right to demonstrate," reacted Yves Veyrier, the leader of Force Ouvrière, for whom "the last demonstrations that took place took place in absolute calm".

The tension rose, however, this week, with power cuts claimed by the CGT-Energie, whose activists were briefly placed in police custody. The government immediately asked for sanctions, Martinez accusing him of "adding fuel to the fire".

- Tight schedule -

The Montreuil power station, however, sought to maintain the flame by all means: operation "dead ports" since Wednesday, shutdown of the hydroelectric dam of Grand'Maison (Isère) - the most powerful in the country - and the three incinerators Ile-de-France ...

Thursday evening, torchlight retreats were held in several cities, bringing together hundreds of people in Dijon, Lyon or Strasbourg, and even a few thousand in Paris.

In transport, after almost returning to normal in recent days, traffic will again be disrupted at SNCF and RATP, in particular in the metro.

Not enough to waver the executive, who sticks to his schedule. As soon as they are adopted in the Council of Ministers, the two draft laws - one organic, the other ordinary - aiming to create a "universal system" of pension by points will be transmitted to the National Assembly.

MEPs will examine these texts at full speed: hearing the ministers next week, examining the amendments from 3 February, debate in public session from 17, with a view to a first vote in early March, just before the imposed truce by municipal elections.

At the same time, discussions are continuing between government, unions and employers on key points such as arduousness, minimum pension, end of career and employment of seniors.

So many subjects that make the final cost of the reform uncertain, including "the equilibrium by 2027" is referred to a "conference of funders" supposed to find the martingale before the end of April.

Claimed by the CFDT, this ad hoc body "will be launched on January 30 at the Economic, Social and Environmental Council", announced Edouard Philippe in an interview with La Croix.

The Prime Minister said he had "good hope that it would lead to something intelligent and responsible". For the time being, the CGT and FO have not indicated whether they will participate.

© 2020 AFP