Why François Bayrou tries to regain control after the failure of the “conclave” on pensions

Union and employer organizations acted on Monday evening the deadlock of negotiations on the pension system. On Tuesday, the Prime Minister decided to convene them in turn to Matignon, to relaunch his process of social dialogue and avoid the unraveling of the Borne reform.

“When we took a long walk, these are the last most engaging meters.” To defend François Bayrou, entangled in the “conclave” on pensions, the deputy Modem Erwan Balanant takes over his metaphor for the “Long march”. In the early morning, Tuesday, June 24, the Prime Minister embarked on a race against the clock to give birth to the social partners of a consensus. Monday evening, the failure of negotiations between trade union organizations and employers pushed him to deny his initial promise not to interfere in the discussions.

By receiving the “conclave” participants in Matignon, the Palois hopes to relaunch the dialogue and find “A way”But he will not escape the deposit of a motion of censorship of the left, announced Tuesday by The head of the socialist group in the National Assembly, Boris Vallaud.

“We have a shipwreck”quips the environmental deputy Benjamin Lucas-Lundy, in the Assembly, in reference to the Papal Conclave. All political edges combined, oppositions see in this new cycle of interviews a communication stroke and a political maneuver by François Bayrou. “He still wants to save time after the failure of the ‘conclave’ and his method, which begins the legitimacy of his government”tackle the elected yvelines. “This day’s meetings are more like a desperate communication attempt. François Bayrou wants to erect a smoke screen after the failure of ‘conclave'”Pushes Arthur Delaporte, socialist deputy for Calvados.

“He seeks to drown the fish and save a few points”Accuses Eric Coquerel, deputy La France Insoumise de Seine-Saint-Denis. Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s party called on Monday evening to censor the Bayrou government, after the social partners acted in the impossibility of finding a consensus. At the other end of the hemicycle, the deputy national rally Gaëtan Dussausaye wonders. “It’s a bit ‘saved that can!’ He tries to save time.declares the elected representative of the Vosges.

There is hardly only the centrists to be enthusiastic about this last straight line initiated by the president of their movement. “He is right not to let go. We must find an agreement. This is the definition of ‘conclave’, we do not go out without solutionMake Erwan Balanant. This is why he tries to put binder without putting pressure on union and employer organizations. “

Even macronists are skeptical about this final round of discussions. “What worries me is that he is the only one to think that there is a possible dealis worried about a deputy of the presidential party, who sees in the interviews in Matignon a way of delaying the inevitable. It’s like palliative care, at the end, we die anyway. “ Some even find the risky strategy. “De facto, since he resumes, it becomes his failure. He may do that to find a way out”wonders a macronist parliamentary advisor.

Because François Bayrou is again threatened by a motion of censorship. “My conviction is that there is, very difficult, a path that can allow you to get out of this dead end” and this path “should lead to a text (…) which can be examined by the national representation”He pleaded Tuesday, in the hemicycle, just after receiving the three unions participating in the ‘Conclave’ (CDFT, CFTC and CFE-CGC), and the president of Medef, Patrick Martin. “Whatever the legislative or regulatory path we will take, it is unacceptable to me to let destroy financial balance”However, warned the Prime Minister, triggering an expected reaction from the socialists.

“Respect for the word given is the foundation of our democracy”replied Boris Vallaud, president of the PS group. The Landes MP reminded him that he had promised a debate “Without totem or taboo”Including on the legal retirement age, the famous 64 years of the boundary reform, that the left and the RN want to repeal. This measure remains untouchable for the executive. The Prime Minister also received The support of Emmanuel Macron, from Norway where the President of the Republic is on the move. The Head of State has “Encounted ardently” Social partners “namely to go beyond the disagreements that persist and to find together a solution that is good for the country”.

If they reached an agreement, the executive wants to believe that it would be more difficult for the oppositions to unravel the result of the ‘conclave’, and therefore to repeal the reform adopted without vote in 2023. “An agreement must be respected. Certain rules may be implemented without going through the Parliament. And in the event of discussion in the Assembly, if it is to unravel what has been agreed, it is no”slice a deputy from the central block.

Before arriving there, the Prime Minister will have, to continue his way, to thwart the spontaneous censorship motion that the socialists intend to deposit Wednesday or Thursday, for an exam in the last week of June. The position of the RN should be crucial. For the time being, Marine Le Pen’s troops do not plan to censor the government on pensions, while reserving their decision, to maintain pressure on François Bayrou for the debates on energy and the 2026 budget.