Macron unveils new pension plan to widespread rejection
Ramin Mazaheri
Press TV, Paris
The administration of President Emmanuel Macron finally revealed the details of their one-size-fits-all pension system which would be a world’s first and were greeted by universal condemnation by unions, NGOs and every political party except for the one created by Macron.
The nation’s largest union declared that a “red line had been crossed”, implying that they will finally join the general strike, now in it’s 7th chaotic day. France is now certain to face weeks of strikes, unless the government can buy off certain sectors of the unionized workforce, namely rail workers, teachers and the police.
The details of the pension plan are so right-wing and unprecedented that many have accused the government of having purposely kept them shrouded in mystery for so long in order to prevent democratic discussion about its true merits.
The prime minister refused to allow the National Assembly to immediately debate the plan and, as usual, did not take questions from journalists.
The proposed changes are accused of creating generational warfare: Pension calculations for those born before 1975 will not be affected, meaning only the nation’s young will endure reductions, as well as future generations. The plan includes a de-facto rising of the retirement age from 62 to 64.
The government promised a pension of no less than either 1,000 euros or 85% of the minimum wage. However, a decade of austerity, three decades of de-nationalizing government services, stagnant wages and increased taxation make it is impossible to live a decent life in France at 12,000 euros per year.
The government claimed their “door was open” to negotiation but they were immediately accused of double-speak, as they have infamously ignored the proposals, experiences and offers for cooperation from social groups throughout Macron’s tenure.
The primary reason given for the pension is that the system is too complicated. Brussels is not being scapegoated for the rollback, unlike previous right-wing measures in France. Even police unions seconded the widespread call by union leaders to harden the ongoing protest movement, meaning France’s decade of social unrest has reached an unprecedented peak.
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