Pension reform in France: the inter-union and the left-wing parties stay the course

The inter-union continues after the departure of Philippe Martinez, general secretary of the CGT. Here the inter-union during the demonstration in Paris against the pension reform on March 23, 2023. © GONZALO FUENTES / REUTERS

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While the France is suspended on the decision that the Constitutional Council will make on the pension reform, the parties of the left are mobilizing to keep the file on the front page of the news.

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We will all put on our tricolor scarves, it will be a beautiful republican procession that will knock at Emmanuel Macron " smiled André Chassaigne. Rather than respond to the invitation of Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne to come and dialogue at Matignon, the left-wing parties will organize Tuesday, April 4, a symbolic march to the Elysée Palace. "There has been too much contempt for Parliament since January, if the door remains closed, the image will be disastrous for the president," continues the boss of the communist deputies. "Macron must stop hiding," adds an ecologist executive.

But the objective is above all to occupy the field, pending the arbitration of the Constitutional Council, explains Aurélien Devernoix, of the political service of RFI. The Wise Men of the rue Montpensier must render on April 14 their decision on the conformity of the pension reform with the Constitution. "For the moment, the unions are alone on the front line and if the mobilization runs out of steam, it will be difficult to relaunch," says an ecologist advisor.

The parties of the Nupes therefore want to be heard and counter the communication of the executive. "They try to attract us to other subjects," warns André Chassaigne, "we must avoid the trap." Hence the decision to decline the invitation of Elisabeth Borne, who is launching a series of consultations from Monday 3 April. "We have two weeks to hold" blows in the ranks of the Nupes. "If the Constitutional Council validates our proposal for a referendum of popular initiative on the reform, we will be gone for nine months of campaign and it is we who will have the hand.

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Keeping an inter-union united

For its part, the inter-union accepted the invitation to Matignon on Wednesday, April 5. "It can last five minutes", if the executive refuses to go back on the reform and its flagship measure, the postponement of the legal age to 64 years, warned the new number one of the CGT, Sophie Binet. If she was delighted that the inter-union agrees to meet her, Elisabeth Borne warned this Friday: the pension reform will be "obviously" addressed, but no question of putting it "on pause".

This discourse on the union unity preserved in the face of the reform that has been going on for almost three months reassures the other unions in any case. "A very good signal" welcomed by the number 2 of the CFDT, Marylise Léon. For his part, the president of the CFE-CGC, François Hommeril, says he has "no doubt that the momentum will continue".

Like the left-wing parties, the unions are counting on the demand for a referendum of shared initiative. A final "exit door from above" that would extend the social movement, says Laurent Escure, secretary general of Unsa.

► Read also: Demonstrations denounce police violence in several cities in France

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  • France
  • French politics
  • Unions
  • Employment and Labour
  • Social issues
  • Elisabeth Borne