He doesn’t want to hear about it anymore. The debate on the method to approve the pension reform – in force or via parliamentary debate – makes Emmanuel Macron somewhat uncomfortable, who did not fail to make it known firmly this Monday in the Council of Ministers.
“He pulled our suspenders up,” says one BFMTV participant, describing a head of state who “wanted to set the record straight” in an atmosphere “where we could hear the flies flying.”
“We are not in parts”, launches François Bayrou
In the viewfinder of the President of the Republic, the head of the MoDem François Bayrou. The main ally of the majority has not stopped for ten days of pour in pressopenly criticizing the Elysee.
While the executive is still hesitating about the method to adopt to extend the retirement age – through an amendment to the social security budget or a specific bill at the beginning of 2023 – François Bayrou has made his point of view known .
First he feared “the passage in force” in the columns of the Parisian, a few hours after the appointment of the new head of Renaissance. Than to disturb the macronie. Before donning a cape last Sunday during his return to movement.
“We are not in parts,” he insisted to his troops, before asking Emmanuel Macron to take a “decisive step towards a more respectful, more modern and more effective method of reform.”
“Focus on the substance,” Macron replies
If François Bayrou approves changing the retirement age from 62 to 64 or 65, what concerns him is the method. In the absence of an absolute majority, if the Government used the social security budget to approve this measure, it could have to go through 49.3. RN and Nupes have already made known their strong opposition to this process.
“Stop talking about the form and focus on the substance”, the President of the Republic rebuked again during the Council of Ministers.
“If we do not fulfill the promises, we will no longer be around this table”
Which gives cold sweats to the modern Minister of Agriculture, Marc Fesneau, “who must not have felt very well at the time”, one of those present still advances.
Emmanuel Macron wants at all costs to accelerate the extension of the retirement age, which he made one of the pillars of his campaign during the last presidential elections.
“If we do not respect the promises we made to the French, we will no longer be at this table,” threatened the president who wants to maintain his image as a reforming president.
“We wash our dirty clothes as a family”
Will this correct reframing be enough to convince François Bayrou? Most now expect criticism of him to be done in private, rather than in the media. “What the PR did relieved some at the table, because they can no longer stand Bayrou’s attitude. It gives the impression that he has gone over to the opposition,” confides a member of the majority.
“We wash dirty clothes as a family, it’s a principle,” he continues.
The next few days should show whether the centrist is more discreet. Emmanuel Macron and Élisabeth Borne will decide this Wednesday on the method chosen by the executive.
Source: BFM TV
