"I cannot let it be said that this reform would penalize modest people. It is exactly the opposite", declared the head of government, eager to "convince" of the merits of the project intended to "save" the system of pay-as-you-go pensions.

"These modest people are the ones who are least asked to shift their starting age," she added.

They will also be "the most affected" by the revaluation of small pensions to 1,200 euros.

"Those whose working hours will lengthen the least are the first two deciles (of the lowest incomes, editor's note), and a little the third decile", detailed Ms. Borne.

"The poorest 20% of French people are those who are least asked to work longer".

"The wealthiest 50% of French people will have the most to shift the starting age", she further developed.

Pensions: the ages of departure over the reforms © Sylvie HUSSON / AFP

INSEE is used to classifying household living standards between 10 groups, the "deciles".

Thus, in 2019, the standard of living of the 10% of the poorest people (first decile) was less than 11,660 euros per year, while the standard of living of the wealthiest 10% (9th decile) was higher than 39,930 euros per year.

The government's plan aims to gradually raise 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 reform, announced a first day of strikes and demonstrations on January 19.

The whole of the left called to join the mobilization.

Polls also show that the French are mostly hostile to the reform.

"Not Broken"

The Prime Minister assured that the dialogue with the trade unions was "not broken" and that the text could "move" during the parliamentary debate.

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne on the 20:00 set of France 2 on January 10, 2023 © Bertrand GUAY / AFP/Archives

But she said she feared that the deposit promised by rebellious France of tens of thousands of amendments "would not facilitate (this) debate".

She also "noted" that the statements of the heads of LR, which she received Thursday at Matignon, "seemed to go in (the) direction" of a vote on their part in favor of the reform.

The Republicans had claimed "a success" after obtaining changes in the reform project.

On hardship and its prevention, she recalled that employees benefited in another law from "reinforced medical monitoring" from the age of 45, and that "it will be necessary to recruit occupational doctors, nurses", specifying that occupational health services were managed by the social partners.

© 2023 AFP