For François Hollande, “The correct fix is ​​not to raise the legal retirement age” – 01/16/2023 at 12:05

“There is no good time to reform the pension system, but there are bad times. This is a bad time,” said the former President of the Republic.

“There is no right time for pension reform, but there are bad times,” François Hollande said Monday, January 16 at France Inter. (AFP/Pascal Lachenaud)

And while the government unveiled its text last week and the unions prepare for mobilization, the former socialist president believes that “the future of the pension system is a collective responsibility. And if there is a structural defect, due to longevity or financial difficulties, reform is possible “, according to François Hollande’s estimate, Monday 16 January

France Inter

. “I started working myself in 2013-2014. But today,

For a repair to be acceptable, two conditions must be met: it must comply with an emergency and

The fix is ​​fair

.

However, these two conditions are not met,” he laments.

Graph showing the evolution of the statutory retirement age and full retirement age compared to pension reforms since 1945 (AFP/)

“First, because in terms of imbalance, which is ultimately real, there was one surplus in 2021 and another in 2022: that a correction is needed, yes, but immediately? At a time when the French are suffering from high inflation, an energy crisis Possible recession…

There is never a good time for pension reform, but there are bad times.

This is bad, ”said François Hollande. According to him,“ a good fix is ​​not to raise the legal retirement age. A good pension reform should have been launched in a few months or in a few years, ”he continues with regret.

“Have we sought effort from the greatest of fortunes?”

On the “justice” of the reform, which Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne had promised, he replied:

“To be fair, this would assume that everyone can contribute the same duration in terms of what their activity was.

But that is not the case: there will be people, especially the most humble, who will have to contribute at 44, and others at 42 or 43. Often it will be those who have had hard jobs and, thanks to my pension reform, can leave at 60 after 42 years of activity, who will have to work until 62, 63 to get a full pension.

Graph showing the current contribution period required to reach the full rate by age of people, according to data from Cnav, and what could happen with Macron’s reform, according to government simulation (AFP/)

“The real problem with this reform is not that it takes effort, it is that it is

This effort is not distributed

. Why is nothing being done about the work of the elderly? Have we asked the greatest fortunes, the highest incomes to make an effort? François Hollande asks. I’m not a union leader, and I’m not here to say whether there will be a big or a small mobilization: but I think it will be important on Thursday.”

‘Great democratic danger’

The real question is political: Will the government make any gestures or concessions in view of the mobilization? And if the government can pass its reform, which is possible, there will be frustration and anger. How will they drive? If there is no serious and credible left-wing alternative, we know where it will go and this is it

serious democratic danger

François Hollande’s concerns.

The former president (2012-2017) personally led the pension reform process led by Minister of Social Affairs Marisol Touraine. This fix him

Extend the subscription period

For a full pension. This period was increased by one quarter every three years from 2020 to 2035, to a total of 172 quarters (

43 years old

) for 1973 and subsequent generations.

Personal hardship account

To allow those who work in difficult jobs to anticipate their departure.