Pension reform: the government in search of a majority

Deputies vote by show of hands during a discussion session on the government's pension reform project at the National Assembly, in Paris, on February 14, 2023 (illustration image).

AFP - LUDOVIC MARIN

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

The text of the pension reform must return to the Assembly on Thursday, with two options: a vote or the use of 49-3.

A passage in force that Emmanuel Macron seemed to exclude, Monday March 13, in front of executives of his camp, declaring that the majority was " 

solid

 ".

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Mathematically, nothing is certain.

In the presidential camp, there are first of all those who try to convince themselves that everything will go well.

Champion of the Coué method, number two of the Renaissance group Sylvain Maillard: “

 I have always said: there is a majority to vote for this text.

So there will be a majority next Thursday

, ”he assures. 

►Also listen: Guillaume Gontard: "Parliamentarians realize that this pension reform is hard to bear"

But among the allies of the President of the Republic, we know that each voice will count.

Philippe Vigier represents the Modem in the home stretch of these discussions: “ 

When we fight to be elected deputy, we go and get the votes one by one.

When we want to convince, we go to see people one by one.

At the end of the day, as they say, it's at the end of the fair that you count the money

,” he explains. 

The LRs in the viewfinder

On paper, a majority of forty votes are missing for the text to be adopted.

First target of the government: the deputies Les Républicains (LR).

But more than twenty of them could not vote for the text.

So the presidential camp also insistently flirts with the members of the independent group Libertés, Indépendants, Outre-mer et Territoires (LIOT).

Key promises, according to their leader Bertrand Pancher: “ 

Yes, it exists, of course it exists,

he concedes.

There are always constant pressures, everyone is called back.

Canvassing, individual poaching will have very little impact. 

» 

Seek votes outside the majority while avoiding internal losses.

This is the government's challenge.

Because several Horizons deputies, close to Édouard Philippe, have confirmed in recent hours that they would not vote for the text. 

►Also read: France: why young people are so mobilized against pension reform

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