François Bayrou who closed the door to a return of retirement at 62 years old could be the subject of reprisals from part of the political class and risk his future in Matignon.
François Bayrou was clear: the return of retirement at 62 is “no”. The Prime Minister left no doubt about his position during his visit to France Inter Sunday, March 16, but it has not pleased the social partners, or to the left parties who campaign for the repeal of the pension reform since the text passed in force during the passage of Elisabeth Borne to Matignon. The Head of Government has put these angry political actors, especially since he had promised them a debate “without any totem and without any taboo, not even on retirement age” in his declaration of general policy in mid-January.
The question of pensions and the revision of the age of departure at 62, rather than 64, must be discussed during a “conclave” with the social partners on an initiative of the Prime Minister. The latter, who met in January and again in February after the publication of the report on the deficit of pension plans, have until May to work and find an agreement. But the release of François Bayrou implies a limit to negotiations on one of the most blocking points of the text. “It’s scandalous”, “incomprehensible” react the negotiators of the CGT and the CFDT unions. The declaration has the taste for betrayal for elected officials of the Socialist Party (PS).
Only a few weeks ago, François Bayrou was able to resist a motion of censorship thanks, in part, to the socialist deputies who had not supported the reversal attempt led by the other parties of the new Popular Front (NFP). A choice justified by the few victories and promises of the Prime Minister obtained by the PS, including that of allowing negotiations on pension reform and the starting age. A possibility that now has lead in the wing. “To the social brutality of the reform (…) does François Bayrou intend to add the brutality of the betrayal of the word given … and written?”, Reacted the boss of socialist deputies Boris Vallaud on X. “The defense cannot serve as a pretext for the acceleration of a policy of deleting rights” declared the boss of the PS, Olivier Faure, on X too.
Bayrou sanctioned by censorship?
Does François Bayrou’s trench declaration risk bringing him damage? He is not immune to seeing the disappointment of the PS feeding a desire to overthrow the government, always deprived of the majority in the Assembly and therefore fragile. A hypothesis feared by a government communicator who criticized the Prime Minister for his exit to Politico : “What an idea to do this now! He makes the socialists pass for idiots and will tense everyone!”
The risk is there: if the leftist parties are decided to see the retirement age drop, deputies of the National Rally (RN) also defend a revision of the pension reform of Elisabeth Borne and her departure at 64. In the event of a censorship motion, the 126 communist elected officials, environmentalists and rebellious as well as the 123 elected officials of the RN could support the text. As well as the 66 socialist deputies who would then drop the government. For the time being, socialist elected officials do not intend to file a motion of censorship has slipped a part of the party to Politicoa position that can still evolve.