The French government said that the increase in the minimum retirement age is non-negotiable

French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne insisted that the delay in the minimum retirement age and the increase to 43 years of the contribution period to have a full pension are already something non-negotiable, despite the discontent and social protests.

“Not that no longer negotiable”, Borne responded emphatically in an interview published this Sunday by the France Info station, because “it is necessary to ensure the balance of the system”.

In the prelude to a new day of protests called by the unions for this Tuesday -the second after the strike and the massive demonstrations on January 19-, the Prime Minister was adamant about the main axes of the initiative, which will begin to be examined in the National Assembly from February 6.

“This is the commitment that we have proposed,” confirmed the prime minister less than 24 hours after the first review of the text in the National Assembly this coming Monday.

Borne also stressed, in the face of the discontent and criticism that the reform arouses, that the Government has heard “many inaccuracies” and false information. Specifically, he rejected the fact that the changes will especially harm French women (most affected by career interruptions) and claimed that “two thirds” of retirees who are going to benefit from a revaluation due to the increase in minimum pensions are precisely women.

He also recalled that the 67 year old cap to enjoy the full pension -regardless of the years of contribution- it is a parameter that the Government does not contemplate changing.

The reform promoted by the Government of Emmanuel Macron contemplates as main axes the increase from 62 to 64 years by 2030 of the minimum retirement age and the advancement to 2027 of the increase from 42 to 43 years of contribution to be able to enjoy a full pension (until now planned for 2035).

It also proposes to put an end to the special retirement regimes, more advantageous than the general system and used on many occasions by public sector companies, such as the state electricity company EDF.

French public opinion is mostly against the reform and that opinion has been reinforced in recent days. The Elabe demoscopic institute published a new survey this week, according to which 72% of those questioned oppose it, six points more than a week ago.

(With information from EFE)

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