Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne defends Sunday, May 22 in the Sunday Journal the pension reform project, insisting on her wish to “not lie” to the French. “Those who would have people believe (that pension reform) is not essential are not telling the truth to the French,” says the head of government.

Emmanuel Macron proposed during the presidential campaign to “shift the legal age” of retirement “by 4 months per year” to bring it “in 2031 to 65 years”, with a device of “long careers” and another of “difficulty”.

“The challenge for our country is to ensure the strength of our social model, to pursue social progress and to invest, particularly in health and education,” argues Ms. Borne.

“The President of the Republic has made clear commitments: no tax increases, no increase in debt. However, we are living longer and longer, the ratio between the number of working people and the number of retirees is decreasing… If we want to preserve the pay-as-you-go pension system, to which our fellow citizens are attached, we will have to gradually work a little Longer “.

Retirement at 65 “is not a totem”, she assures, “but we must ensure the financing of our social model. And announcing to the French that they will work less, brandishing retirement at 60, is lying to them. This is what the RN has done for years. It is also a measure found in the Nupes program and which is not credible. The promises like “tomorrow, we shave for free”, the French do not believe in them. I will not lie to them. “.

Purchasing power as a priority

On keeping the Minister of Justice in his post, which has angered magistrates, Elisabeth Borne replies that “Éric Dupond-Moretti has obtained the largest increase in the justice budget for twenty years and concrete results in terms of staffing levels and case processing times”. On the education appointment of Pap Ndiaye, the Prime Minister refuses to see a break with the legacy of her predecessor, Jean-Michel Blanquer:

“Let’s avoid caricaturing positions. Both have the same goal: to ensure equal opportunities and excellence for our young people, which the new minister perfectly embodies. »

The head of government also responds firmly to Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who hopes to take office after the legislative elections in June:

“The excesses of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, personally, interest me very little. Mr. Mélenchon, like all of us, should respect our institutions. The presidential election is played in two rounds, and I remind you that he was not in the second round. »

Finally, Elisabeth Borne confirms the priorities of the new government which will be on the table of the Council of Ministers from Monday: school, health, ecological transition but above all purchasing power, which must be the first text presented to the new Parliament which will be elected in a few weeks.