Europe 1 with AFP 6:33 p.m., January 24, 2023

Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne tried on Tuesday to put an end to the controversy over the impact of pension reform on women, assuring that she was going to "reduce" inequalities with men, while her minister Franck Riester had recognized that they would be "a little penalized" with this government project.

Strongly challenged in the National Assembly, Elisabeth Borne tried on Tuesday to put an end to the controversy over the impact of pension reform on women, assuring that she was going to "reduce" inequalities with men, while her minister Franck Riester had acknowledged that they would be "a little penalized".

"I cannot let it be said that our project would not protect women. On the contrary", launched the Prime Minister, during the session of questions to the government, in response to the Socialist deputy Mélanie Thomin who estimated that women will be "more heavily penalized" by the postponement of the retirement age from 62 to 64 years.

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Women, "first beneficiaries of the revaluation of small pensions"

Long heckled on the benches of the left, Elisabeth Borne assured that the reform would reduce "the unacceptable inequalities between women and men at the time of retirement".

"We protect women who have incomplete and choppy careers, women who started working early, women who have small pensions," she insisted.

“Women will be the first beneficiaries of the revaluation of small pensions,” she added.

"The reform will contribute to reducing the pension gap between men and women", said the head of government, denouncing a "false trial", but adding that she hoped that the parliamentary debate would make it possible to "continue to enrich the project". .

The controversy arose from a study unveiled Monday, presented by the government as an impact study of the reform.

It shows that the latter will push women to extend their careers more than men, while helping to reduce the pension gap between the two sexes.

A divisive statement by Frank Riester

On Monday, the executive initially seemed uncomfortable justifying these impacts.

Women "are a little penalized by the postponement of the legal age, we absolutely do not disagree", had thus assured the Minister of Relations with Parliament Franck Riester.

"The quarters per child do not play on the postponement of the age, they play on the duration of contribution", he had explained.

"It's a way out," sighs a ministerial adviser.

Opposed to the postponement of the legal age, the left has indeed immediately seized on the words of Frank Riester.

"Even the government ends up recognizing that women will be 'penalized' by postponing the legal age. The more the days pass, the more everything demonstrates the injustice of this project", tweeted the first secretary of the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure. .

#Retirements: even the government ends up recognizing that women will be "penalized" by postponing the legal age. The more the days pass, the more everything demonstrates the injustice of this project. We don't give up! https://t .co/wTxgnhXXfN

— Olivier Faure (@faureolivier) January 24, 2023

"Clearly, Macronie is at bay: listen to it, we couldn't have said it better," exclaimed MEP La France insoumise Manon Aubry.

When a member of the government has not read the language of his government and recognizes that the pension reform will penalize women even more.



Decidedly the Macronie is at bay: listen to it, it wouldn't have been said better pic.twitter.com/KwWvgiDYZF

— Manon Aubry (@ManonAubryFr) January 24, 2023

"How so!? Women who have more choppy careers and lower salaries than men risk losing out with the increase in the necessary contribution period and the postponement of the retirement age, what a surprise! !” Also vilified left-wing economist Thomas Porcher, still on the social network.

What !?

Women who have more choppy careers and lower salaries than men risk losing out with the increase in the necessary duration of contributions and the decline in the retirement age, what a surprise!!

— Thomas Porcher (@PorcherThomas) January 24, 2023

As in response to the avalanche of criticism, Renaissance spokesman Loïc Signor felt that opponents of the reform "do not want to correct the current system... And yet it widens the pension gap between men and women" .

"Our reform will finally reduce them. We assume it. And we are even proud of it!", He tweeted.