Our pension system is at the heart of a fragile social pact. Fragile, because it is based on a financial balance which, over the years, has been eroded by demographic changes, economic challenges and growing expectations for social justice. Faced with this reality, the new government of François Bayrou is initiating discussions on a possible questioning of the achievements of the 2023 pension reform. A proposal which would undoubtedly penalize the economic future of the country.
Because considering a step backwards or a suspension of this reform would amount to increasing pressure on a system already undermined by the aging of the population and the economic slowdown. This will ultimately increase the burden on assets and further call into question the financial sustainability of our social model. Far from being a technical adjustment, this choice would represent a direct threat to our collective capacity to guarantee an attractive job market due to salaries affected by contributions.
Worse still, such a step backwards would appear above all as a bargaining chip to obtain support for a government project rather than a social project. This short-termist logic ignores the deep reflection that such a fundamental question deserves. Pension reform cannot be a political negotiation tool; it must be conducted with rigor and lucidity, based on clear and shared objectives: balance, sustainability, fairness.
While the State is subsidizing more than 75 billion euros in reduced charges to try to make our job market attractive, our social protection system must be reformed in a spirit of responsibility. Reducing the burden of financing pensions involves extending the contribution period to take into account the increase in lifespan, reflecting on the relevance of reductions in charges which do not achieve their initial objectives, promoting the employment of seniors to strengthen the contribution of active workers and to anticipate the impact of arduous jobs to make a second career possible.
It is time to reconcile politics and the general interest. This requires a clear refusal of any reform which, in reality, would only increase the social debt that we will leave to our children. Our commitment must be to work for a fair and sustainable pension system. This requires a long-term vision, free from short-sighted arrangements.
* Sébastien Martin is president of the Grand Chalon agglomeration