If there was no white smoke, François Bayrou said herself “Impressed” this Thursday by the advances obtained in the discussions on the pension reform. “I am impressed by progress, and I think you are going to have proof, which have been made for four months. There may have been moments of tension, sometimes annoyance. (…) The representatives of employees and companies each took into account the expectations of their interlocutors and together took into account what is more important, the general interest ”said the Prime Minister at the start of his press conference in Matignon. He said the negotiation had allowed “Advanced” but thatNo agreement had been formally signed.
François Bayrou estimated that a “compromise” between unions and employers, engaged for four months in the pensions negotiations, was “At hand” Regarding arduousness, the main blocking point between social partners. By taking stock of the discussions, which did not lead to a global agreement, he underlined the will to “significantly and immediately improve women’s pensions (…) having had children “. He also said that a compromise had been found to lower the retirement age at full rate, from 67 to 66 and a half. Even in the absence of a formal agreement, François Bayrou said he was willing to integrate certain “Compromise provisions” In the next Social Security budget.
What to remember from the press conference of François Bayrou on pensions
Before detailing the advances obtained, François Bayrou recalled the “goals” fixed to the conclave: guarantee the future of the distribution pension system By restoring its balance by 2030. “It was the only condition I had put”he insisted. He also mentioned Improving the employment rate of seniors like another objective, as well as a desire to Strengthen system justicenotably by quoting women’s pensions and taking into account arduousness. Do not increase the cost of labor was also one of the priorities, as well as the ambition to take out the debate on pensions from its usual, in particular intergenerational tensions. François Bayrou also mentioned The question of governancestressing that everything should not necessarily be in the political field, and taking for example that of additional pensions in the private sector. “Political democracy may give a boost to social democracy”he also slipped.
Legal retirement age
As for the advances from the conclave, François Bayrou said that all of the participants had accepted the principle of return to balance. He also praised the fact as an advance, “And it was not necessarily easy”, that all have accepted Do not question the legal age of departure at 64. He also underlined the lowering of the departure age without a discount, going from 67 to 66 and a half.
Women’s retirement
Among the advances mentioned is the improvement of Women’s pensionswith a calculation of pensions based on the best 25 years, but out of the 24 for those with a child, or in 23 for two or more children. Another measure in favor of women: taking into account two quarters of increased insurance duration per child for early departures under long careers.
Hardness
The Prime Minister then listed the requests brought by the unions, in particular on arduousness. He said that the request to integrate rights for workers exposed to certain situations today not covered had been accepted. Concerning their last requirement on the “prevention” aspects and “repair” arduousness, François Bayrou recognized an agreement on the first but a failure on the second. “On this point, a search for agreement is essential. But I am convinced that a path exists ”he insisted.
On the financial aspect, François Bayrou praised two agreements: one on arduousness with a mobilization of 500 million euros via the ATMP branch (work accidents and occupational diseases), the other on a rationalization of the accumulation of employment-retirement, which could generate an additional 500 million euros. “The point that remains to be clarified to complete the financing of justice and return to equilibrium measures relates to 400 million euros”he assured, saying to himself “Convinced” that a “New path” exists.
Regarding this disagreement on the remaining funding, in particular on anticipated departures linked to arduousness, a central subject for several weeks, François Bayrou has asked the social partners to resume discussions for two or three weeks. If no agreement is reached, he said again that he would take his “Responsibilities” and would decide, by integrating measures into the social security financing bill.
Long retreat and career derely
Asked about a possible Removal of pensionsoption present in the statement of conclusions and supported by unions and employers, François Bayrou kicked in touch. He referred the decision to his budgetary announcements provided for mid-July, while specifying that he did not want “stigmatize” a particular category of the population. Another subject that has remained unanswered: the sensitive debate around the tightening of the long career device. Asked about this, François Bayrou again referred to the upcoming discussions between the social partners.
