• The executive pension reform project will be debated from Monday in public session in the National Assembly.

  • Without an absolute majority, the government is counting on the votes of the right to have the text adopted.

  • But LR elected officials are less and less enthusiastic about the content of the project.

    And could ultimately not vote for it.

Eyes glued to the calculator.

While his pension reform project arrives this Monday in the Assembly, the executive is counting its troops.

“I believe that we will have a majority (…) in Parliament”, declared Bruno Le Maire, the Minister of the Economy, this Thursday on LCI.

The government hopes to rely on the deputies Les Républicains to have its text adopted without 49.3, but the case is far from over.

Because after hitting with Elisabeth Borne in mid-January, the right is now much less enthusiastic about the content of the text.

To the point of seeing its elected officials let go of the executive at the time of the vote?



“We are not here to sign a blank check to the government”

The agreement seemed well sealed, however, on January 12, after an interview with the Prime Minister.

In front of the cameras, the boss of the right, Eric Ciotti, congratulated himself on having snatched concessions, in particular on the revaluation of small pensions, after having already obtained the starting age at 64 rather than 65. But the member for Nice seems to have gotten a little carried away.

“Perhaps some rushed, because the account is not there.

We are not here to sign a blank check to the government, ”warns Julien Dive, LR deputy for Aisne.

Within the LR group, several voices have pointed out the "injustice" concerning long careers.

These elected officials want employees who started working before the age of 21 to be able to retire as soon as they obtain the 43 annuities, without going until the age of 64.

"It was the workhorse of Aurélien Pradié [the number 2 LR], we then all integrated it by filing a group amendment", says Eric Pauget, deputy of the Alpes-Maritimes.

Most of the 62 LR deputies now make it an essential element to vote on the text.

But on Wednesday, the government spokesman, Olivier Véran, was rather opposed to it.

“It is not in our objective to give up this balance found, including that which makes those who started at 20 retire at 64”, he indicated, recalling the “cost” of such a measure, estimated between 1 and 3 billion euros.

“If they don't have 40-50 votes from the right, the carrots are done for the government.

I think they are aware of it, ”replies Eric Pauget.

“All arguments are good for not voting”

The arm wrestling between the two camps looks tense.

Especially since the macronists are beginning to annoy the procrastination of the right for several months.

“We cannot vote for a postponement of the age for years in the Senate, defend it in the presidential election, and then oppose it.

I want to believe that the Republican right has not joined the camp of demagogues and populists, ”tackles Pieyre-Alexandre Anglade, Renaissance deputy and chairman of the European Affairs Committee.

“Part of LR does not want to vote for the reform because they were elected by leading a very tough campaign against the president during the legislative elections.

So all the arguments are good today for not voting.

If it's not long careers, it will be something else.

We have not done enough on this, and on this, and on this…”, mocks a Horizons deputy, the party of Edouard Philippe.

"It's unsaleable in the field!"

“LR is the weak link.

They are in deep shit.

Pensions are in their DNA, but the deputies from rural areas, who won against us by 51-55%, have everything to lose.

What I imagine is that many will have a swimming pool on voting day, ”laughs Thomas Ménagé, RN deputy for Loiret.

Would elected LR officials be afraid to vote for an unpopular reform in public opinion, including in the right-wing electorate, while the threat of dissolution still looms?

“Everyone is convinced that reform is needed to preserve the system.

We are listening to our territories and what was proposed before, even with us like the 65 years old, is not possible today in this context of inflation, ”replies Philippe Gosselin, LR deputy for the Channel.

“I had to do about forty vow ceremonies in January, and the prospect of having those who started earlier work for 44 years is unsaleable in the field!

Especially since at the com level, the macronists take it like feet … ”Julien Dive, he prefers to point to the elected Renaissance, Horizons or Modem who have also expressed their doubts about the content of the reform.

"Rather than dealing with the LRs, the government should worry about the dissatisfaction within its own majority".

Policy

Pension reform: Contested, the government (already) lacks cartridges to negotiate

Policy

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