Pension reform in France | The French did not want to lose their social benefits. Will Macron resist pressure from the streets? | Retirement Age | Pension | Reform of Pension System | the world

If January 19 protest Bringing together 1.12 million people in Paris and other cities across the country, This time that number has risen to 1.27 millionAccording to French authorities, around 2.8 million French people protested this Tuesday for one of the most powerful unions, the General Confederation of Labor (CGT).

The day saw separate strikes in the railways, oil and education sectors as more than 11,000 agents were employed across the country.

read more: Why are the French outraged by Macron and taking to the streets again today?

The aim of the protests is to win the pulse of the President in the streets, which he is determined to get. The minimum retirement age has been delayed to 64 years from the current 62 yearsAlso 43 years of contribution to get full pension – not 42 now.

This reform, this Macron He has been unable to approve it since his first term, Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne said, “It’s non-negotiable,” and it’s considered by the president to be absolutely necessary for public funding.

The retirement age in France is one of the lowest in Europe. And because of the low birth rate and the aging of the population, there are fewer contributors: from three contributors in the 70s, there are now 1.7 contributors for every pensioner.

A developed state

“France is a country that has been governed for most of its history by right-wing and center-right parties (such as Macron), while being one of the most social welfare countries. France is a clear example of how social policies depend on social mobilization and where unions have forced right-wing governments to yield.” explains El Comercio Javier Carbonell is associate professor at the Sciences Po in Paris and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Edinburgh.

Thus, the unions’ goal was to change the pension system when conservative Jacques Chirac was president in 1995, but social pressure prevented him from implementing it.

Can they make it this time? “We cannot be sure that the reform will be implemented,” As this magazine points out Peruvian historian and political analyst in Paris, Rodrigo Murillo. “Little by little, a kind of perfect storm is building: the cost of living is rising, gasoline is more expensive and energy, as a result of the war in Ukraine, has also become more expensive. All this can tire the French, even more so in the context of this war.”Collaboration.

For Carbonell, twisting the government’s arm won’t be easy. “It’s a battle to see who gets tired first. Macron is used to governing with high levels of social conflict, and this will continue throughout his government. To a certain extent, he may make some changes to his reform, but it is Macron’s star proposal and he is not going to let it go. Explain.

read more: Macron on the ropes: How pension reform sparked massive anger in France?

In his first term, the president faced massive protests from the Yellow Coats, which, while it made him back down from his intention to increase fuel taxes, did not prevent him from winning re-election in 2022.

Carbonell points out that if the level of mobilization can be sustained for weeks and even months, they can achieve their goal.

Everything is against Macron

However, time is running out. The proposal has already been approved by the administration, and its implementation began in the National Assembly (Parliament) this Monday. A plenary debate in the legislature is expected to begin on February 6, however, opponents of the plan have tabled some 7,000 amendments that could complicate the debate.

“League 1: documents, suspensions, positions, threats and everything known about the start of the competitionIt needs the support of the traditional right-wing party, Los Republicanos, because it cannot ally with the left or far-right. Thus, even as social mobilization moves to the left, politics is going to shift further to the right”. Carbonell notes.

Although the president was re-elected in April, after defeating Marine Le Pen again, his victory was no fluke. In fact, during the campaign he had to qualify his first pension scheme in order not to lose votes, and toned down the tone of the speech, which was considered ‘snobbish’ by many French people.

“I believe that the pension reform has served as a catalyst for continuous social discontent, and they are demonstrating against Macron and his neoliberal proposals. We don’t like the reform, but I think it is a mobilization against the government and the image of the president.” Carbonell warns.

The French did not want to lose their social benefits. whatMacron Can it withstand the pressure of the streets?