Pension reform: Emmanuel Macron responds to the unions but does not move
Emmanuel Macron, February 28, 2023. REUTERS - STEPHANE MAHE
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
After the strong mobilization of March 7 against the pension reform, the unions sent a letter to Emmanuel Macron asking him for a meeting.
In the home stretch of the examination of the text in Parliament and before the next calls for strikes and demonstrations, on March 11 and 15, they want to put Emmanuel Macron under pressure.
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Philippe Martinez of the CGT said it again this Friday morning, "
the ball is in the court of the president
"... What the unions hope is that Emmanuel Macron receives them and in the letter they have addressed, they are very clear: the silence of the executive in the face of social mobilization against the pension reform poses "
a serious democratic problem
".
The unions, who have deplored the lack of contact with the Elysée or Matignon for weeks, warn against the anger that this could generate in the population.
Union leaders Laurent Berger, of the CFDT, and Philippe Martinez, of the CGT, photographed side by side during the demonstration on January 19, 2023, in Paris, against the pension reform.
AP - Lewis Joly
In the majority, we pretend not to see the problem around this presidential silence.
A minister even sweeps away the criticism by explaining that “
Macron is not the type to hide
”.
The argument put forward is that it is a question of “
separating time
” and “
respecting
” that of Parliament.
However, this Friday morning, the Minister of Labor Olivier Dussopt drew the constitutional weapon of the blocked vote before the Senate, which will have to decide by a single vote on the entire bill.
This is to counter "
methodical opposition
", said the minister.
Article 44.3 of the Constitution used will allow the Senate to decide by a single vote on the entire reform, retaining only the amendments proposed or accepted by the government.
Each of the approximately 1,000 remaining amendments can however be defended, specified the chair of the session, Nathalie Delattre.
The exchanges will therefore continue.
Emmanuel Macron could not, however, do without a response to the unions.
He therefore sent them this Friday morning a letter in which he affirms that he does not "
underestimate
" the "
discontent
" and the "
anxieties
", while reaffirming that "
reform is necessary
" and that the government is "
at the listening
" to the unions "
to move forward through dialogue
".
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Also to listen:
Movement against pension reform in France: the most followed day so far
But no question of a meeting: Emmanuel Macron responds, but does not give in.
►
To listen also:
The minute retreats
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France
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Emmanuel Macron
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