Above all, don’t play the triumphalism card. After the net decrease of the third day of mobilization against the lowering of the retirement age, the presidential majority plays the card of caution.
“It seems like an arrangement, but be careful with hasty conclusions,” judges a macronista deputy to BFMTV.
“It is not significant”
757,000 people demonstrated this Tuesday against the pension reform, compared to 1.12 million on January 19 and 1.272 million on January 31, according to figures from the Ministry of the Interior. What to give a little air to the elected renaissance who face very tense debates in the chamber.
However, less mobilization does not change the main thorn in the side of the executive: the French are still largely opposed to the pension reform with 71% according to a poll by Elabe for BFMTV.
“We are not relieved because it is not significant. Beware of triumphalism, the challenge is always strong”, points out a deputy from the majority.
“Relatively Large Demonstrations”
There is no question, therefore, for the executive to boast. The message from the President of the Republic who called on his lieutenants in mid-January to show “humility” was received 5 out of 5.
“Today’s demonstrations have once again become relatively important” we also noted in the Prime Minister’s entourage.
The same story on the side of Olivier Dussopt, the Labor Minister who said he “take note” of the figures on Tuesday, calling “never jump to conclusions” about LCI.
“Let’s wait and see the scope” of the mobilization on Saturday
This strategy of going back also seeks not to add fuel to the fire as the next day of mobilization on Saturday approaches. With a hope for the executive: that the mobilization figures are not higher than those of previous days of unemployment.
The government also bears in mind the parallel with the 1995 strikes that forced Alain Juppé to abandon the reform of the special regimes. It was the sixth day of the mobilization and its 2 million people on the streets had finally made the then Prime Minister give in. Therefore, there is no question of officially giving in to relief.
“Let’s wait to see the scope of the movement on Saturday,” judges a Renaissance parliamentarian. Colleges and student associations are betting strongly this weekend to mobilize young people. For their part, the trade union centrals count on the employees who until now have not been able to strike for economic reasons.
Source: BFM TV
