Seven deputies and seven senators meet this Wednesday behind closed doors in a mixed joint commission to find a compromise THE controversial reform of pensions in France seeking to delay the retirement age from 62 to 64. The president, Emmanuel Macron, hopes that there will be an agreement so that the final vote is held on Thursday.
The meeting takes place behind closed doors and very close to there, on the Esplanade des Invalides, the unions have announced the eighth day of mobilization against this reform, rejected by 68% of the Frenchaccording to the latest polls.
The march took place this Wednesday in Paris in the midst of mountains of garbage, rats and pigeons which, when they approach to eat the waste, end up crushed by cars. The garbage is the product of the strike of the collectors, joined the protests against the reform.
A part of the left parties had asked for this meeting out public, but depending on the uses it will stay out of the projectors. It is a crucial appointment for the future of this reform that the executive wants to adopt, At any cost. The agreement is more than likely because the macronists and the right are in the majority.
In case an agreement is found this Wednesday, the text will go to the Senate this Thursday and the National Assembly for its final vote.
The positive vote is practically assured in the Senate, dominated by the right. However, uncertainty persists in the National Assembly. President Emmanuel Macron has only a relative majority and needs yes or yes votes from the right-wing group Los Republicanos and in this party there is a lot of division on the subject.
“There are deputies from the majority who first they will not vote in favor of the text. And above all, it must be seen that a majority on paper is not necessarily needed. We need the majority in the session, that is, the deputies who are afraid to return to their constituencies that day they can decide not to participate in the session“, explains to RFI Benjamin Morel, professor of public law at Paris 2.
If the ruling party does not get the majority to adopt the text, it can always appeal in article 49.3 of the French Constitution, which allows its adoption without a vote.
But resorting to this article would be a failure for Macron. “The reality is that 49.3 would be a political defeat, at least a symbolic one. But if the text were rejected by the National Assembly, it would be a defeata real stampede,” adds the political analyst.
The risks of a decree
An appeal to 49.3 could in turn cause the protest movement hardened in the streets. If he resorts to this mechanism, Macron will too is exposed to a motion of censureaccording to some opposition MPs, another thing is that it can flourish.
“I don’t think there is a risk that this will mean the end of Macron’s mandate, he was elected until 2027. What is at stake is its ability to approve textsthere is a concrete risk of a form of inertia or a weakening of the ability to make reforms, to approve texts and, therefore, ultimately, to to rule the country”, analyzes Morel.
Eighth day of mobilization
Meanwhile, this Wednesday is celebrated on the eighth day of mobilization against the reform. Although the movement seems to be weakening, some sectors continue with strikes, such as garbage collectors, some transport or the energy sector.
“It is an important day to defeat this unfair reform. The mobilization of workers must question the deputies. We are numerous in the streetstweeted Laurent Berger, leader of the French Democratic Confederation of Labor (CFDT).
The workers’ union also announced a protest for Thursday in front of Parliament to coincide with the vote on the project.
Despite the massive refusal expressed on March 7, when almost 2 million peopleaccording to the same Police, the Government has remained firm in its plan which aims, as it states, avoid a future deficit in the pension fund in a country with rising life expectancy.
“This reform is urgently needed to the financing of our pensions and the solidity of the country. We have a solid majority” in Congress of forces in favor of carrying out the law, a confident Macron said this week.
Since last week the unions have launched a strike extensible in key sectors such as energy and transport.
Agencies and RFIs
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.