Pension reform: it's D-Day for the Constitutional Council

After three months of political and social crisis, all attention is focused, this Friday, April 14, on the Constitutional Council, which must announce, at the end of the day, its decisions on the pension reform

Pension reform: it's D-Day for the Constitutional Council

After three months of political and social crisis, all attention is focused, this Friday, April 14, on the Constitutional Council, which must announce, at the end of the day, its decisions on the pension reform. He must also position himself on the project of the left of referendum of shared initiative (RIP) aiming to thwart it.

These are crucial decisions for the continuation of Emmanuel Macron's five-year term, because the decisions of the Council, responsible for monitoring the conformity of laws with the Constitution, are not subject to any appeal. Will he totally or partially censor the reform? Cut off the famous social or procedural "riders" (senior index, even senior CDI) whose cancellation seems to be beyond doubt, even within the government?

The word of the Elders is "expected, because it will set a precedent", summarized the Insoumis Éric Coquerel, opposition president of the Finance Committee of the Assembly.

If validated, Emmanuel Macron will still have to promulgate the law. He said this week that he wanted, "in a spirit of harmony", to receive the unions. And should soon address the French. A summit meeting of the majority scheduled for Friday at the Elysee was finally postponed to Monday.

The day after the twelfth day of inter-union demonstrations, 131 actions are expected this Friday evening in reaction to the decision of the Constitutional Council, in particular "in the form of rallies, parades and blocking actions", according to a note from territorial intelligence. Any demonstration near its headquarters, located in a discreet wing of the Palais-Royal, has also been prohibited since Thursday at 6 p.m.

Already this Thursday, the entrance to rue de Montpensier had been symbolically blocked by garbage cans in the morning. Then, as the Parisian procession passed, a large force of police and gendarmes positioned themselves in front of the Palais-Royal.

Will the protest continue as the traditional May Day approaches? "We find ourselves facing two Frances", analyzed Thursday, the general director of opinion of Ifop, Frédéric Dabi. “A France of retirees, senior executives, who are in a logic of order, in a logic of legality – “that’s it, we have to put away the signs, we have to move on” – and a France of work, an active France, a France of the left, a France of the extreme right, of the National Rally, which wants the social movements to continue. »