The government does not give in but is open. Like Gabriel Attal, during the interview he gave us, Olivier Véran this Sunday reaffirmed the government’s desire to pass its pension reform, while saying he was ready for adjustments. Guest of BFM Politique, in partnership with Le Parisien-Today in France, he reacted in particular to the major demonstrations on Thursday at the call of the unions. “Thursday, there were people in the street. I don’t see 1 million people in the street, I see 1 million people who have to be convinced. We do not want to give up, we want to convince and dialogue explained Olivier Véran. This is really our state of mind today. »
So on the text of the reform to be presented this Monday in the Council of Ministers, he made a point of recalling that “this project has been concerted for months” and “modified compared to its initial copy”, referring in particular to the age of start shifted to 64 years old and no longer to 65 years old as initially proposed. “This shows, estimated Olivier Véran, that we are listening, and in a proactive listening. We are able to enrich, modify our project and there will be a parliamentary phase which will allow us to continue this work. »
However, the government spokesman insisted that the path chosen by the government was, in his view, the right one. “Either you work longer, or you pay more taxes or you increase the debt”, he described assuring that these last two options were rejected by the government. “If we reform the system, it’s because the revenue will no longer be enough to pay the pensions,” he insisted.
The proposals of the opposition parties “not serious”
The government is now very virulent vis-à-vis the unions and reserves its arrows for the opposition parties. “Their proposals are not serious,” denounced Olivier Véran. Regarding the next debate in the National Assembly, where the presidential majority says it fears obstruction, the spokesperson warned: “I say to the opposition, let the parliamentarians debate, we need them to do it and the French are waiting for him. »
Regarding the subjects on which the executive is ready to discuss, he cited actions to improve the employment of seniors in companies. “We are open to proposals that parliamentarians or social partners could make,” he explained. Asked whether this could go as far as coercive measures against companies, he replied “why not”.
Finally, while, according to Le Figaro, Modem deputies, in order to find sources of funding for pensions, would like to extend working time by thirty minutes, the minister judged that it was not necessary to “light up all fronts” at the same time. “I consider that we have no vocation to return to the 35 hours”, he added.