Pension reform: the scathing response of the Élysée to Matignon

Europe 1 with AFP 09:14, 07 April 2023

Preliminary tension between Elisabeth Borne and Emmanuel Macron? The Prime Minister called Friday not to "rush things" and to respect "a period of convalescence" to prevent the unions from "coming out humiliated from this sequence" of the pension reform, according to comments reported by the newspaper Le Monde. This very conciliatory tone contrasts with the remarks made by the president on Wednesday on the sidelines of a trip to China.

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He had, via his entourage, denied any "democratic crisis in France" and assured that he had a clear mandate to reform pensions. He was also concerned about the "violence" that dots the protests. "We have to be extremely careful not to rush things, we have to let it rest. The country needs appeasement," said the head of government, after her meeting on Wednesday with the inter-union and a week before the decision of the Constitutional Council on the reform.

"The course has been set"

In search of the "right timing" to renew the dialogue, Elisabeth Borne believes that "the unions must not come out humiliated from this sequence" and calls for "respecting a period of convalescence". "Before looking for allies to vote on the texts, it is important that we say where we want to go," she added, according to Le Monde. "We must give meaning and breath to the action. I'm not just here to administer the country."

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From China, the entourage of the President of the Republic quickly reacted to these statements. "The President of the Republic coordinates with the Prime Minister. The course was set by the President of the Republic during his interview at 13h on France 2 and TF1. He asked the Prime Minister to receive the unions and work on a roadmap for the coming months," he said.