What if the pension reform that the government wants were through another route than an ad-hoc bill or a reform of the Social Security financing bill? A third track is being considered, described as “serious” by the entourage of the head of state, BFMTV learned.
This path takes the form of a “PLFRSS”, that is, a bill for the reform of the financing of Social Security. The reform would thus be postponed to the beginning of 2023.
“I feel, in fact, that the postponement option holds the rope,” a majority leader told BFMTV.
“If you do it now, you will be charged with brutality”
This new option has three main advantages. First, I would allow Emmanuel Macron not to appear abrupt, to give the consultation time. “If he does it now, we will charge him with brutality,” observes one minister.
Likewise, the president would thus send commitments to his majority, especially to the allies of Modernity who make the entry into force of the reform in the fall a beautiful case. Finally, the Head of State could easily use 49.3 for this PLFRSS, and save one for another text during the parliamentary session, as the use of this article is limited.
And then, as it is a financial text, the debates last less. A way to frustrate the possible obstruction of the oppositions.
A reform postponed to 2023?
But this third way also has drawbacks. Emmanuel Macron would appear to be backing down on this pension reform when he seemed to be advocating an amendment in the fall and final adoption before Christmas.
“It already makes me laugh that we say no to the social security budget to do it in another social security budget,” jokes a high-ranking official of the majority, in favor of the fastest option.
A technical difficulty also arises: it is difficult to integrate the suppression of special regimes in a budget text. So we would need other legislative support to reform this.
But nothing is decided yet. The final decision will not be made until the end of the week. In the meantime, a dinner will be held at the Elysée on the subject on Wednesday night, and Emmanuel Macron will travel to Pau on Friday, together with François Bayrou, with whom he could also discuss it.
Source: BFM TV
