Jérôme Guedj (PS) advocates a freeze, not a repeal

The NFP has so far only spoken of repeal. The socialist is looking for compromises.

It looks like a possible compromise: Socialist MP Jérôme Guedj proposed on Sunday that the next government suspend or freeze Emmanuel Macron’s much-criticized reform of retirement at 64, rather than a pure and simple repeal as advocated by the New Popular Front (NFP).

“We need to put the subject back on the table, start by suspending, freezing. I’m not talking about repealing at this stage, that was the proposal of the New Popular Front,” declared the PS representative from Essonne on Radio J.

“As the left has not won, we suspend, we freeze and we re-discuss with the social partners,” he added, recalling that he had, like the NFP, supported the cancellation of retirement at 64 during the legislative campaign.

Tempering the NFP agenda

The left-wing NFP alliance, one of whose priorities is to repeal this very unpopular reform adopted in 2023 without a vote thanks to article 49.3 of the Constitution, came out on top in the early legislative elections. But it is far from holding an absolute majority.

President Emmanuel Macron has refused to appoint NFP candidate Lucie Castets to Matignon, and is continuing his consultations with a view to appointing a Prime Minister. On Monday, he will receive former Socialist head of government Bernard Cazeneuve, who is the clear favourite.

On Radio J, Jérôme Guedj pleaded for political forces to make “compromises” in the period that is opening. “It cannot be the whole program and nothing but the program of the NFP,” he said.

Pension reform should be at the center of discussions in view of the formation of the new government. Bernard Cazeneuve has indicated that he will discuss it on Monday with Emmanuel Macron. The president of the MoDem François Bayrou, an ally of the head of state, has indicated in recent days that he thinks the reform “can be improved”. On Sunday on LCI, he said he was “convinced” that “better adjustments” could be found.