Economy Minister Eric Lombard signals that the decision on pension reform lies with the social partners, implying potential negotiation among stakeholders.
Sunday, March 16, saw Economy Minister Eric Lombard declare that the pension reform's fate now rests with the social partners, after François Bayrou's stance eradicating the idea of bringing retirement age back to 62.
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Minister of Economy Eric Lombard chimed in on Sunday, stating, "It's on social partners to decide," following François Bayrou's firm rejection of returning the retirement age to 62, now 64 under existing law. Lombard expressed these sentiments during an interview on BFMTV.
Earlier in the day, Bayrou left no room for ambiguity regarding a return to 62 years of age. With the 2023 reform's "conclave" in jeopardy, Bayrou emphasized, "The government's position is that the conclave should make a decision, and this commitment from the conclave will carry significant weight." Yet, Lombard stopped short of explicitly endorsing Bayrou's assertions. "62 years has a hefty price tag," Lombard acknowledged.
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If "social partners wished to re-establish 62 years," Bayrou explained, "Other criteria would need to be significantly altered to manage the trajectory of balance." To sidestep censure from the Socialist Party, Bayrou reopened the reform spearheaded by Elisabeth Borne in January, conferring the task of attempting to reach a new agreement upon the social partners.
Social partner consultations started on February 27, with unions and employers due to meet at least once a week until the end of May. Bayrou promised to present any potential agreements, even partial ones, to Parliament for consideration. "I am, along with the Prime Minister, one who believes that social dialogue is absolutely crucial," Lombard finally said, answering questions about the controversy sparked by a former Prime Minister, Édouard Philippe's statements criticizing the conclave of social partners as "out of touch" and "already outdated."
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The French pension reform, implemented in March 2023, has stirred up controversy. While Eric Lombard and François Bayrou have not made recent comments about the retirement age, the pension reform, which increased the retirement age to 64 by 2030, remains contentious. Despite a recent symbolic resolution by the French Parliament advocating for the repeal of the 2023 pension reform, the retirement age might need to be raised further—perhaps to 66 by 2045, as proposed by the Pensions Advisory Council (COR), to prevent the pension system from going broke. This proposal has elicited strong resistance from unions and political parties. The French government grapples with political paralysis and economic challenges, which the pension reform has exacerbated, given the ongoing protests and political opposition.
- The retirement age, currently at 64 under existing law, is under consideration by the social partners following Francois Bayrou's rejection of returning it to 62 years.
- The fate of the pension reform's policy-and-legislation, surrounded by controversy amidst general news, now relies on the decisions made by the social partners, as seen in Eric Lombard's recent statements and Bayrou's commitments to parliamentary submissions.
