This week, a topic will be on everyone’s lips: article 7 of the pension reform. For the second round of debates in the National Assembly, it will be the center of attention as its content arouses disputes. This provides for the postponement of the legal retirement age from 62 to 64 years, a measure that unites the unions against the government.
After a week of strong tensions, its examination seems far away: article 2, which establishes the creation of an index for the elderly, has not yet been adopted and 15,800 amendments, mostly from La France insoumise (LFI), still have to be be studied, unless the interested groups decide to withdraw them.
“The Government expects the debates to speed up”
Whose fault is it? To the rebels, say the experts in the presidential camp. The debate “is a prisoner of the boos, of the chaos of LFI”, denounces for example Bruno Le Maire this Monday on RTL. The Minister of Economy invites the movement of Jean-Luc Mélenchon to “withdraw[r] its thousands of amendments”.
The rest of the debates, “it does not depend on us, it depends on the Nupes”, Sylvain Maillard abounds in the Public Senate. The first vice president of the renaissance deputies denounces the elected LFI. The latter, according to him, “are afraid of the vote” on the pension reform because “they know they are going to lose it.” Hence, he believes, the numerous amendments presented by the group.
On the contrary, the majority wants to “vote article 7”, insists Sylvain Maillard. His field has taken some colors since the start of the debates in the National Assembly last Monday. The executive was concerned to see his majority “frayed but rather reunited,” says Matthieu Croissandeau on BFMTV. Our political columnist believes that the “very aggressive climate of the past week” has “closed ranks.”
“Delegitimize the government”
Above all, “the first article of the law on the suppression of special regimes was approved by a majority, without too much difficulty,” he stresses. According to him, “the government hopes that the debates will speed up in order to approve article 7 and take advantage of a first victory.” With the aim, according to Matthieu Croissandeau, of “demobilizing the demonstrators in the street”, especially since “in the polls, the majority of the French are convinced that the law will be approved and applied”.
“But on the Nupes side, we feel the danger and that’s why we make the pleasure last”, continues Matthieu Croissandeau.
“Leur objective, c’est de délégitimer le gouvernement, d’espérer surtout that ce ne sera pas voted pour dire: ‘regardez, on n’a même pas pu en discusser à cause d’Élisabeth Borne'”, explain-t- He.
Questioned by BFMTV.com in the middle of last week, the environmentalist deputy Benjamin Lucas found nothing to complain about with the many amendments from the left.
“There are as many as the sufferings caused by this reform,” said the Yvelines deputy.
“It is up to the government to find the terms of appeasement”
Even if it means skipping the text exam? “It is the government that opted for the legislative route,” replied Benjamin Lucas, while the examination of this bill is limited to 20 days in the National Assembly. The chosen one from Génération.s invited “not to confuse” the roles.
“Qui est au pouvoir? Ce n’est pas nous, c’est le gouvernement. -He.
Even so, a “part of the elected Nupes”, especially socialists and environmentalists, judge that it would be “absurd” not to reach article 7, explains Matthieu Croissandeau. “They say that it must be discussed, that it be the high point of the debates”, he indicates, before adding: “for the moment, that line does not prevail, because it is La France insoumise that supports the Nupes”.
“LFI is considering dropping its amendments at the last moment
However, the unions put pressure on the left. “We want there to be a vote on article 7,” Philippe Martínez declared on BFMTV on Monday, asking that “each deputy be able to express himself on this famous article.” His counterpart in the CFDT, Laurent Berger, is in the same line.
“Article 7 must be discussed because that is what people are talking about in the street,” he said this Sunday at LCI.
For now, nothing is done. “LFI is considering withdrawing its amendments at the last minute to catch the government by surprise or to speed it up,” explains Matthieu Croissandeau. And consider, however, that this “politicism” “is not at all up to the challenge of society that this reform poses.”
Source: BFM TV
