French Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne announced in an interview with AFP that she no longer wishes to use the prerogative of government responsibility outside of texts related to budgetary matters, given that this gesture she made with the pension reform has intensified protests in the country. Elizabeth Bourne also wanted to “appease” the unions and announced that she would speak to parliamentary groups and political parties, including the opposition, Le Figaro reported.

“The goal that we have set for the future is that there will be no more 49.3 outside the financial texts,” said Elizabeth Bourne, referring to the text of the Constitution that allows the government to be held accountable.

Clause 3 of Article 49 of the Constitution allows the adoption of the text without a vote in Parliament, but gives the government a vote of no confidence. Last week, two proposals to the text of the pension reform were rejected, but nine votes were not enough to pass one of them.

“Since the beginning of the mandate, 11 bills and 12 proposed bills have been finally adopted. 49.3 referred to only three texts”, these are the texts of the budget for 2023, including the pension reform, included in the budget adjustment law. on social insurance, said the prime minister.

Elizabeth Bourne also sought to “reassure” the unions, saying she was “available” to meet with them on topics other than pensions, a reform that has been contested for ten weeks on the streets. “I am also available for social partners. We need to find the right way: bilateral meetings, maybe an inter-union meeting… We need to calm down the situation. And we can get back to working on all the complex social issues. , professional reconversion, etc., the Prime Minister said.

With regard to pensions, she reminded that the reform was adopted and that it is “taking its course” at the Constitutional Council, which will give an opinion, after which the president of the republic “must promulgate the law”, as provided for by the Constitution.

Elisabeth Borne, who has been tasked by Emmanuel Macron with drawing up a governing and legislative agenda, said she would “roll out” an “action plan” in the next three weeks “which will mobilize all those who want (the country) to move forward”.

During the week starting April 3, the Prime Minister will receive parliamentary groups and political parties, including the opposition, as well as representatives of local authorities with the aim of “reassuring the country” and “dialogue with all actors about the method that the government wants implement it.”

She will host the presidents of parliamentary committees on Monday, the presidents of the Senate, Gerard Larchet, and the National Assembly, Yael Braun-Pivet, on Tuesday, and the leaders of the majority parties on Wednesday, before meeting education ministers and parliamentarians at the end of the week.