Pensions: Ciotti assures that LR will be "at the rendezvous of its responsibilities"

"The right that we embody will always meet its responsibilities," said Eric Ciotti during his greetings to the right-wing party, referring to a pension reform "whose imperious need we measure" and "whose we have wanted to mitigate the brutality".

Earlier in the day the boss of the deputies Les Républicains Olivier Marleix said he was convinced that his group would bring "converging proposals" on the reform.

"We are at the start of the parliamentary debate, I have always recalled our concern for consistency and our spirit of responsibility," Ciotti told reporters.

The great figures of the party, from Laurent Wauquiez to Gérard Larcher via Bruno Retailleau, had made the trip to headquarters for these wishes.

However, Aurélien Pradié, an unsuccessful candidate for the presidency of LR who became vice-president in the organization chart, was missing due to "an obligation to the Assembly" according to Mr. Ciotti.

Shortly before the start of the meeting, the deputy for Lot, at the forefront of the challenge to the text, had tweeted his doubts: "The more the weeks pass, the more the French will measure the massive injustices of the current pension reform".

"Without justice, no reform", he warned.

"What Aurélien Pradié wears is important in the debate on pensions", in particular on "long careers", assured Eric Ciotti, ensuring to exchange "constantly" with him.

"We are still working on proposals," he added, referring to "the situation of women with troubled careers" and "long careers" where "there are improvements to be made", but also "a major policy of the family", "the employment of seniors", "the combination of employment and pensions".

The president of LR Eric Ciotti (c), the president of the LR group in the Senate Bruno Retailleau (g) ​​and the president of the Senate Gérard Larcher (d), during the wishes of the Les Républicains party, January 24, 2023 in Paris © Emmanuel DUNAND /AFP

"We will work calmly," assured Eric Ciotti, calling for "no doubts about the unity of our groups in the Senate and the National Assembly, and the position that our family will carry, of responsibility".

© 2023 AFP