In a public meeting, before audiences, which are often favorable, members of the government must respond to misunderstandings, fears and criticism. Without always being able to provide an adapted response.
by Audrey Tonnelier
“We have a surprise guest this evening!” It is a little more than 8 pm, this Wednesday, January 18, and the public meeting on the pension reform is already well started, when Elisabeth Borne makes a remarkable entry into the Antoine-Watteau theater in Nogent-sur-Marne. Under the applause of the fifty people in this wealthy commune in Val-de-Marne, who came to ask their questions to the local deputy (Renaissance) Mathieu Lefèvre, and to the Minister of Labor Olivier Dussopt-that several participants admitted that he had not recognized his Arrival -, the Prime Minister advances, delighted with her effect. She is there to “exchange” and recall the government line: reform pensions aims to “ensure the future of our system, today in danger” thanks to a project of “justice” and “social progress”.
The day after the presentation of the reform methods, on January 10, the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, had urged his government to go to “pedagogy” on the ground. Between a radio morning and an interview with the regional daily press, several of them chose to reconnect with a format that had flourished at the time of the great debate in 2019: the public meeting. “We talked a lot with unions and oppositions, now we have to meet the French,” justifies the entourage of Gabriel Attal, Minister Delegate for the Budget, who indicates that he wants to keep up a meeting per week .
The first, which was held on January 12, brought together around fifty people – merchants, small bosses, nursing assistants, firefighters, workers, civil servants … – in the multipurpose room of Juvisy (Essonne), in The invitation of the deputy (Renaissance, ex-Republicans) Robin Reda. The exercise, in conquered electoral ground, did not prevent a fire nourished by questions, reflecting the concerns, even of the anger of the participants.
“My husband works in Rungis, he gets up at 2 o’clock every morning, carries heavy loads, walks 15 to 17 kilometers per night. If he stops at 64, I wonder how he will do “Explains Sophie. Emmanuel has been a professional firefighter for thirty years: “Working two more years more, it will take me to 59 years. Wearing 40 kilos of equipment on your back, it goes when you have 20, 30, 40 years. , it starts seriously shooting on the rope. “” And the apprentices, who start at 16, get up at 3 am to receive 350 euros? “Lames a baker.
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