Before the deputies, François Bayrou announced new debates on the question of pensions. Without totem or taboo, even on the starting age.
François Bayrou has therefore taken the plunge. The Prime Minister announced, Tuesday January 14, 2025, “restarting work” on the pension reform voted against all odds, thanks to 49.3 in 2023. On the occasion of his general policy speech to the deputies, the head of government explained the method he wishes to put in place to relaunch discussions on the subject, listed the people he wishes to involve in the reflection, set the timetable and mentioned the subjects which could be debated.
An inventory established by the Court of Auditors
Firstly, the discussions will be based on an “indisputable” framework set by the Court of Auditors. The administration is required to establish “the current and precise state of pension financing” in a few weeks. It is up to From this document, work on pension reform can then begin.
The debates should last a maximum of three months, announced François Bayrou. Thus, the tenant of Matignon is targeting the month of June as the deadline for negotiations. A deadline to allow time to take the necessary legal measures before a new stage of the reform comes into force in September, namely the raising of the retirement age to 62 years and 9 months.
A decree to freeze the retirement age at 62?
To work on a reform of… the reform, a “permanent delegation” – in the words of the Prime Minister -, made up of representatives of trade union organizations (CGT, CFDT or even CFE), employers (Medef, CPME in particular) and policies will be put in place. A “conclave”, meeting this Friday, January 17, in which “everyone will have the right to have the issues that concern them included on the agenda”, starting with the legal age. Bayrou made a commitment to the deputies: “no totem, no taboo.”
Depending on what emerges from these discussions, a decree could be taken to cancel the postponement of the legal age planned for the start of the 2025 school year, advances BFM TV. The current age would therefore remain at 62 years and 6 months.
A new pension reform adopted in the event of agreement
The avenues for improvement identified by the social partners will be “all explored”, but the overall balance must meet one requirement: “not to let the financial balance that we seek deteriorate.” Understand that it does not cost more than it currently does. If an agreement is found between the parties, then “we will adopt it” announced the head of government. While warning: “If the partners do not agree, the current reform would continue to apply.”
Three other files under discussion
There is therefore no question of suspending or repealing the Borne law. Beyond the legal departure age, “fair and reasonable adjustments” could be implemented, according to the words of the current Minister of Labor, Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet. They could concern taking into account the arduousness of work, but also the careers of women, as well as “multi-pensioners”, that is to say those who receive pensions from several pension schemes.