Newly appointed French Prime Minister François Bayrou expressed optimism on Friday on passing an alternative to President Emmanuel Macron’s controversial pension reforms by the end of May.
Trade union and employer representatives are to hold discussions on the reform from mid-February to resolve conflict on the way a reduction in pensionable age was pushed through without a vote in the National Assembly.
Following an initial meeting on Friday, Bayrou said he was convinced that his efforts could lead to positive results.
Months-long mass protests erupted in France after the reform was pushed through at the beginning of 2023, raising the pensionable age in stages from 62 to 64.
Marylise Léon, head of the CFDT union, said the union continued to reject paying pensions only from 64. She nevertheless expressed optimism following the meeting.
Speaking for the CGT union, Sophie Binet said the discussions had shown how big the differences were.
Éric Chevée of the CPME association of smaller businesses said ahead of the meeting: “If employer contributions are to rise, there will be no agreement.” He stressed that this was a red line for the association.
If the discussions fail to reach an outcome, Macron’s reforms will stand.
Bayrou, who describes himself as a centrist, has called on both sides to arrive at a reform that is socially more equitable without additional costs.
He needs support from the leftwing parties for his minority government to survive.
On Thursday, the prime minister survived a vote of no-confidence in the National Assembly after socialist members and the far-right National Rally withheld support for the motion put forward by the hard-left La France insoumise (France Unbowed) party.
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