Pensions: unsurprisingly, 64-year-olds validated by joint joint committee

The seven deputies and seven senators adopted the famous article 7, we learned from parliamentary sources.

A global agreement on the text in the Joint Joint Committee (CMP) is essential for a final vote, at high risk for the executive, Thursday in the National Assembly.

On the social front, the mobilization continues with the gas workers, garbage collectors, air traffic controllers still on strike... The Fort de Brégançon, official residence of the Presidency of the Republic, was affected by power cuts.

But will it rebound in the streets after the breathlessness of March 11 for this eighth day of action?

In Marseille, 7.000 people marched according to the prefecture, 160.000 according to the inter-union. On March 7, the peak of the protest, the police had counted 30.000 demonstrators and the unions 245.000. Across France, the police are planning less mobilization.

The Parisian procession set off from the Invalides to reach the Place d'Italie. The government "is trying to trick everyone", especially the right, denounced the leader of rebellious France Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

The votes of the Republicans are crucial for the presidential camp which only has a relative majority in the National Assembly.

"More than ever, the government is trying to ensure that a natural majority can support this urgent and crucial reform for our country", declared its spokesman Olivier Véran, after the Council of Ministers.

A possible recourse to article 49.3 to adopt without a vote the flagship reform of Emmanuel Macron's second five-year term, "was not mentioned" on this occasion, he said.

Senior permanent contract

In the meantime, the CMP - seven deputies, seven senators, and as many alternates - continues to work at the Palais-Bourbon.

Before examining article 7, the commission drew up an agreement on the creation, proposed by the senatorial right, of a senior CDI, exempt from family contributions, according to Senator Renaissance Xavier Iacovelli, member of the CMP. But the device would be tested until 2026 and would only have a limited field.

The executive has already conceded to the right a decline in the retirement age to 64, not 65, as well as an increase in small pensions extended to current retirees.

But the issue of long careers remains the main sticking point.

"I will vote against" the reform if a device including a maximum contribution period of 43 years for all employees is not validated, indicated on franceinfo Aurélien Pradié (LR).

The left opposition denounces "a lack of debate" during the CMP. "Small details have been changed, wolves are hiding everywhere," accused one of its members, socialist deputy Arthur Delaporte, denouncing "a big joke".

An agreement is likely in committee because the macronists and the right are in the majority there.

If successful, the text will be submitted Thursday morning to the Senate, dominated by the right, which will validate it one last time.

But the suspense remains on the vote which must follow in the afternoon in the National Assembly with the divisions which persist at Les Républicains.

"It's not a vote of membership, it's a vote of responsibility", hammered on Europe 1 for the right Mr. Véran.

"Until the last moment, there will be uncertainty," a government source told AFP.

49.3?

These doubts raise the possibility that the government will trigger Article 49.3 of the Constitution, which allows adoption without a vote.

Several voices in the camp of the Republicans do not oppose this hypothesis. "It is better to have a 49.3 than no reform at all", estimated on France Inter the boss of LR senators, Bruno Retailleau.

However, resorting to it would be perceived as a devastating political gesture, likely to harden the movement, as several union leaders have warned.

Especially since the executive has already chosen to restrict the debate in Parliament to 50 days and to draw the Senate a tool allowing it to vote blocked on the entire text.

Using 49.3 also exposes the executive to a vote of no confidence.

The secretary general of the CFDT, Laurent Berger, called on BFMTV elected officials to "vote in soul and conscience", denouncing "an unfair and brutal reform".

Renewable strikes continued, even if we are far from a "France at a standstill".

The four LNG terminals have voted to renew their movement until the beginning of next week.

Some 7.000 tonnes of garbage are piling up in Paris where the garbage collectors have voted to continue their movement at least until March 20.

At the SNCF, traffic remains disrupted with 3 TGV Inoui and Ouigo out of 5; 1 Intercity out of 3; and 2 TER out of 5. The provisional rate of strikers approached 15% Wednesday noon at the SNCF according to a union.

The electricity and gas sector remains mobilized given the crucial issue for employees who, in addition to the decline in the legal age, refuse the abolition of their special scheme.

The inter-union will meet in the evening.