Paris (AFP)

Two novice ministers, a battery of rapporteurs, the majority and their sometimes waving left wing, facing ultra determined opponents: spotlight on the actors of the great explanation on pensions in the National Assembly.

The baptism of fire of Véran and Pietraszewski

Two novice ministers have the heavy task of carrying out the most difficult reform of the quinquennium as soon as they take office.

The Secretary of State for pensions and former deputy for the North Laurent Pietraszewski has been in office since the end of December, after the departure of former high commissioner Jean-Paul Delevoye. Member of Parliament Olivier Véran has just been appointed Minister of Health on Sunday evening, replacing Agnes Buzyn, LREM candidate in Paris.

Deemed a good connoisseur of social issues, Mr. Pietraszewski had made himself known from the start of the legislature as rapporteur for the controversial reform of the Labor Code.

Previously, the 53-year-old Secretary of State with a bald head, sometimes adept at managerial jargon and jokes, made a career for Auchan, especially in human resources.

In a special retirement committee, "Pietra" as the walkers call it, was first criticized by the opposition for its "silence", before gaining more confidence over the debates.

Olivier Véran, neurologist, was propelled Minister of Health at 39, a position that the former socialist had coveted for several years including under the previous five-year term.

The ex-deputy LREM of Isère was until now rapporteur of the Social Security budget in the National Assembly and rapporteur of the organic part of the pension reform.

A token of the left wing, he knows the subject of pensions well and has been happy to taste shock formulas and spades against opposition so far.

A "walker" ex-PS team leader

Among the deputies, the text is carried by a battery of rapporteurs, with the elected LREM and ex-PS Guillaume Gouffier-Cha as team leader.

Former adviser to Jean-Yves Le Drian at Defense during the Holland five-year term, Mr. Gouffier-Cha was chosen for his "loyalty" and because he is a "skillful negotiator", according to a parliamentary source. He was relatively discreet in committee.

On the ordinary side, the co-rapporteur MoDem Nicolas Turquois found himself in the front line in committee, between ironic remarks on the obstruction of rebellious or argument on farmers, his profession of origin.

Other rapporteurs, Jacques Maire, son of the former leader of the CFDT Edmond Maire, as well as Corinne Vignon and Carole Grandjean (LREM) were retreat "ambassadors" for the political group LREM. Another "walker", Cendra Motin inherited the organic component. The deputy Agir Paul Christophe completes the casting.

Leaders in opposition

For this crucial battle, all the groups have mobilized their troops.

The leader of the rebellious Jean-Luc Mélenchon is doing everything to take on the role of first opponent of this reform. He assumed the "obstruction" and warned that it will "heat up all along". Clémentine Autain or Adrien Quatennens have stepped up interventions in committee to reject the bill as a whole.

Among the Communists, in addition to the group leader André Chassaigne, it is especially Pierre Dharréville and Sébastien Jumel, two elected officials with shock formulas, who are at the wheel.

The PS relies on its leader Valérie Rabault and the party spokesperson Boris Vallaud. The former adviser of François Hollande at the Elysee Palace, with chiseled formulas, constantly criticizes the "amateurism" of the government.

On the LR side, group president Damien Abad hammered at the National Assembly that his party wanted to embody a "third way". The chairman of the Finance Committee and ex-Minister of the Budget Eric Woerth also regularly intervenes on the "absence" of the financing component in the bill.

At the RN, Sébastien Chenu practically did not come to the special commission of which he was a member, which earned him sarcasm from LFI. "We will defend our amendments as we do every time, in plenary," replied Marine Le Pen from a distance.

Among the "walkers", in addition to the main body of the troops, a sometimes waving left wing - notably with Martine Wonner or Jean-François Cesarini - intends to be heard on the arduousness. Or to offer alternatives to the pivotal age of 64.

© 2020 AFP