Pension reform: Olivier Dussopt and Bruno Le Maire at the helm

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne (l), flanked by French Labour Minister Olivier Dussopt (c) and French Minister of Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire (r), at the National Assembly during a session on pension reform, March 16, 2023. AFP - ALAIN JOCARD

Text by: Valérie Gas Follow

1 min

Faced with criticism and demonstrations after the decision to use 49.3 to avoid losing a vote on the pension reform, the government is keeping its line and showing its determination to move forward once the vote on the motions of censure is over. An attempt at a counter-offensive led by the Minister of Labour Olivier Dussopt and the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire in two interviews, one in the Journal du Dimanche and the other in Le Parisien.

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Start preparing for the next step: this is what Olivier Dussopt and Bruno Le Maire have applied themselves to. An unavoidable Sunday communication offensive on the eve of the examination of the motions of censure tabled against the government.

A test that the two ministers think to overcome because the "coalition of counters" does not make a majority. For Olivier Dussopt, "the rebellious France and the National Rally cannot govern together". A way of arguing that there is no alternative to Emmanuel Macron's relative majority.

At the same time, with a reaffirmation of the need for the pension reform, which Bruno Le Maire says will be applied... as a response to those who demand that it be withdrawn or never promulgated, including the unions, with whom Olivier Dussopt hopes that there will be "a before and after" pension reform, so to be able to negotiate on other texts.

💬 #MotionDeCensure They are "allies to bring down the government"The Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire denounces the "clownish team"

formed by the Insoumis, the RN and the Liot group.

The full ⤵️interview https://t.co/zLi6bJOCAI

— Le Parisien (@le_Parisien) March 19, 2023

Texts that will have to be voted on in the Assembly with, still according to the two ministers, the same method of seeking compromise... which has however resulted in a failed appointment with the Republicans (LR) a 49.3 and the emergence of violence in recent days.

► Read also Pension reform in France: the weekend of doubt for the majority

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• France
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• Emmanuel Macron