They voted for Emmanuel Macron in the two rounds of the presidential elections of 2017 and 2022. Neither by default, nor to block the far right, but out of conviction. These voters were seduced by “man’s intelligence”, “its freshness and liveliness”, “his realism” or “his economic pragmatism”. The vast majority of the approximately 120 macronists who responded to the call for evidence from the Monde support his pension reform. Contrary to the 64% of French people who are opposed to it (according to an Ipsos poll published on February 2), they praise a text ” brave “ et ” responsible “even « indispensable ».
“Macron is the first president to really tackle the problem of pensions”, judge Mélanie (she does not wish to give her name, like all the people interviewed). At 45, this HR manager in Paris says to herself “ready to work a little more” pour “save the pay-as-you-go system”, which is based on intergenerational solidarity between working people and retirees. Given the aging of the population, “we will have to rebalance the accounts”adds Mélanie who “Admit not understanding the outcry against the bill”. “We all have to make an effort”she points.
An observation shared by Stéphane, 54, teacher in Ile-de-France. “With this reform, I take six more months. I do an intellectual job and I’m in great shape, so it doesn’t bother me at all.”, he assures. Like Mélanie and Stéphane, many people who testify to the Monde consider themselves “privileged” and do not work in jobs considered to be arduous (they are executives, IT specialists, business leaders, architects, advertisers, etc.). Some even dread the end of their professional life, synonymous for them with” anguish “or even ” depressed “. “I don’t understand people who are looking forward to retirement”whispered the teacher.
Most use mathematical logic, like the government, to justify a reform they think “inevitable”. “We cannot hold out with 1.7 contributing assets per retiree. It’s just untenable.”summarizes an engineer from Marseille. “If we don’t want to lower pensions or increase contributions, there is no alternative”, adds an employee from Val-de-Marne. For many, it seems logical to work longer, as in other member countries of the European Union (EU), where the legal age varies: 65 in Belgium, 67 in Denmark and Italy, 60 for Austrians and 65 years for Austrians, departure possible from the age of 62 in Sweden, with full pension at 65, etc.
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