As the battle over pension reform begins, she wants to send a message to the unions.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne on Thursday called on the unions to "not penalize the French" in their mobilization against the pension reform.
“For the unions, it is a call for responsibility,” said the head of government on the sidelines of a trip to Disneyland Paris, while the CGT unions in the oil branch pose the risk of blocking refineries.
“We can strike but we must also be attentive to the daily lives of our fellow citizens,” insisted the former president of the RATP in front of journalists.
The eight main unions unanimously opposed to the reform
“We are in a period which can be complicated, with concern in particular about inflation.
Let's find modes of action that do not penalize our fellow citizens", continued Elisabeth Borne, who presented on Tuesday her project aimed at gradually raising the retirement age to 64, instead of the current 62, while accelerating the extension of the contribution period.
The main unions, unanimously opposed to this flagship reform of Emmanuel Macron's program for his second five-year term, have already called for a first day of strikes and demonstrations on January 19.
The polls also show the majority of French people hostile to the reform.
The Prime Minister said she wanted to “convince”: “this reform is both necessary to restore the balance of our pay-as-you-go pension system”, “but also a text of justice and progress”.
She recalled what the government considers to be “social advances”, on long careers, “difficult jobs”, and the revaluation of small pensions.
Economy
Pension reform: An "indispensable and vital" law, Macron hammers to his ministers
Politics
Pension reform: During a meeting in Paris, the Nupes shows a united front against the measures of the executive
Pension reform 2023
Elisabeth Borne
Union