Vote on a bill to repeal the postponement of the legal age, referendum of shared initiative, July 14… The elected officials of Nupes intend to continue their fight against the pension reform after the mobilization of this Monday.
Strike the iron while it is still hot. On the left, the adage takes on its full meaning in the current period: no question for its various political leaders to turn the page on pension reform, even if the text has been promulgated for a little over two weeks. On the contrary, it is a question of mobilizing and maintaining the idea of a withdrawal from the agenda, while public opinion continues to support the social movement.
Guest of BFMTV, François Ruffin thus assured this Sunday that “the battle is in progress”. In this match against the executive, the rebellious deputy of the Somme said he was ready to play “extra time”, or even “penalties” if necessary. While repeatedly chanting a message to his supporters:
“This law will be defeated.”
A “tidal wave” for May 1st?
Since the Elders gave the green light on April 14, the representatives of the New Popular Ecological and Social Union (Nupes) have their sights set on May 1, International Workers’ Day. The leader of La France insoumise Jean-Luc Mélenchon hopes that this mobilization, against the backdrop of protests against the pension reform, will result in “tsunami”.
The left will be able to count, once again, on union unity, which has never wavered since the beginning of the mobilization against the pension reform. Proof of the scope of the challenge: this is the first time since 2009 that the power stations have come together on May 1st.
It remains to be seen, however, how long this union will last, at a time when the unions are called upon to return to the negotiating table and must, in this sense, receive an invitation from Elisabeth Borne to go to Matignon this week.
Keep up the pressure from the National Assembly
The left will meet on Tuesday for a “summit meeting” bringing together its various feathered leaders, with the aim of initiating phase 2 of the Nupes. If the subjects of tension are numerous, between a Fabien Roussel who judges this coalition “outdated” and the divisions on the idea of a common list for Europeans, the various elected officials will be able to unite around the pension reform. Especially in view of the calendar.
The day after this meeting, they will know whether the Constitutional Council validates their second request for a shared initiative referendum to maintain the legal retirement age at 62 and prevent its postponement to 64, provided for by the law of the executive. A first initiative was rejected by the Elders on April 14, but the left places its hopes in a more legally sound text.
She will also seek to continue the battle from the Palais Bourbon, as parliamentary recess ends this week. “Parliament cannot resume its little routine as before”, considers the rebellious deputy Antoine Léaument in The JDD.
“If there is action in the Assembly, there will be some in the street”, projects this close friend of Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
A Liot bill
The Nupes is betting in particular on a bill from the deputies Independent Freedoms Overseas and Territories (Liot) aimed at repealing the postponement of the legal age to 64 years. The text will be presented on June 8, during the group’s parliamentary niche.
Which has already distinguished itself by tabling a “transpartisan” motion of censure, after the government triggered 49.3 on pension reform on March 20. The vote for this provision allowing the government to be overthrown was decided by 9 votes and won votes from Les Républicains deputies – a first since the start of the legislature.
This time, the Liot group could nevertheless find a favorable outcome: unlike the motion of censure, which requires an absolute majority (289 votes), it will only need a simple majority to have its bill adopted.
A great action of the rebellious on July 14?
Without this being sufficient, the Senate then having to give the green light. A possibility that seems unlikely, as the right-wing majority in the Luxembourg Palace is in favor of pension reform and the postponement of the legal retirement age.
In any case, the left sees further. As revealed The Parisian, the rebels are thinking about organizing a big action on July 14th. If the date marks the National Day, it will also be an opportunity for Emmanuel Macron to take stock of the period of “100 days of appeasement”, which he announced on April 17. Either the ideal day for LFI to open a counter-fire.
