The former head of state notably pointed to the significant anger displayed by the French population. “In many categories of the population, there is this same anger, this feeling that democracy is not working as it should”, he declares. In question, the pension reform, a particularly complex file and in which the errors would have succeeded. The context chosen for this reform is also badly chosen according to the socialist, this one intervenes “at the worst time”. “When you launch a pension reform in a context of high inflation, necessarily amputated purchasing power and concern because there is also a war in Ukraine which creates doubt regarding the usefulness, you enter a misunderstanding process.” François Hollande concluded by issuing “doubts regarding the constitutionality of the procedure chosen” and added that he would like a suspension of the reform and a resumption of discussions with the unions.
The former president therefore attacks both the substance of the reform and the method by which it was installed. The lack of discussions with the unions, an unsuccessful negotiation with Les Républicains as well as the use of a legislative vehicle “which reduces the time of the debate” and forced the government to use 49.3 contributed to creating a tense climate in France.
But another problem was the president’s poor communication when addressing the French. It was expected that Emmanuel Macron would calm the situation, except that he did “exacerbated with more unpleasant words for the leaders of the CFDT”. The ultimate mistake for the socialist would then be to “carry on as if nothing had happened”. To hope for a return to calm, François Hollande encourages Emmanuel Macron to renew the dialogue with the inter-union as soon as possible and “without waiting for the decision of the Constitutional Council” and on “all subjects”.
