PARIS: French Prime Minister Elisabeth Bourne told JEE News on Sunday she would meet opposition leaders early next month and be open to talks with unions after weeks of protests against pension reforms.
She also said she would no longer use the controversial procedure that allowed her to force through unpopular reforms without a parliamentary vote beyond budget matters.
Bourne spoke to JEE News on Tuesday ahead of another day organized by unions to protest against pension reforms, which include raising the retirement age from 62 to 64.
Stressing that he is ready to negotiate with all social partners, he added: “We have to find the right way… We need to calm down.”
But he also said the pension reforms would be subject to approval by the Constitutional Council, which would rule on the constitutionality of the legislation.
Opposition parties are hoping the council will decide against the government on the reforms, as they were forced through parliament without a vote.
Bourne used Article 49.3 of the Constitution, widely referred to as “49.3”, to push the draft legislation through the National Assembly without a vote when it became clear that the government did not believe He knew he needed votes.
The latest move triggered two no-confidence votes, one of which the government narrowly avoided by just nine votes – and sparked a backlash on the streets.
Protests against pension reforms have turned into the biggest domestic crisis of French President Emmanuel Macron’s second term, with regular clashes between police and protesters in Paris and other cities since the reform was forced through. .
Opposition pressure
Since becoming Prime Minister in May last year, Bourne has used 49.3 11 times. But she told JEE News on Sunday that she would no longer use it outside of financial matters.
Asked about his priorities for the coming weeks, he said: “I have two goals: to bring calm to the country in the face of these tensions, and to meet the expectations of the French people.”
Macron has tasked Bourne with drawing up a program for the next phase of his administration and is due to meet with him and other senior members of the government on Monday.
Bourne said that during the week of April 3, she would meet with parliamentary groups and political parties, including opposition parties, for open dialogue and with the aim of “making the country happy”.
But Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a former presidential candidate for the hard-left France Unbowed party, called on Sunday to roll back the pension reforms and let Bourne go.
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who is challenging Macron in the 2022 election, has also said Bourne “must go or the president must be asked to resign”.
The government faces a new test on Tuesday as unions have announced a new day of action against pension reforms.
Since January, millions of French people have been peacefully marching against the reforms.
A wave of strikes – including Paris refuse collectors who have left streets littered with rubbish – and sometimes violent protests against the government’s reforms have drawn increased international media attention. Has been withdrawn.
Security forces have faced criticism for what critics say are their heavy-handed tactics in dealing with protests.
And the visit of Britain’s King Charles III, which was due to begin on Sunday, has been postponed due to the current unrest.
