A poll by Ifop and the Journal du Dimanche (JDD) found that 53 percent of people – mostly supporters of the government and the right-wing opposition – were in favour of the project being returned to the spotlight after it was shelved in the wake of the pandemic.
Touted as the single greatest revamp of the pension system since World War II, the reform consisted of a raft of measures including raising the retirement age by two years to 64.
Réforme des retraites : "La pandémie a trop changé la donne", selon les syndicats https://t.co/2ZCF5lhb6q pic.twitter.com/701Oj87q4C
— Le JDD (@leJDD) June 3, 2021
Angry unions led tens of thousands of people into the streets in protest, with transport strikes bringing cities such as Paris to a standstill.
Despite the newfound support for his signature reform, however, President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday it could not go ahead “as it was originally envisaged”.
He told reporters: “It was very ambitious and extremely complex and that is why it generated anxiety, we must admit that. Doing it right now would mean ignoring the fact that there are already a lot of worries.”
Analysis in the JDD said it would be politically risky for Macron to push ahead with the reform as campaigning begins for the 2022 presidential election.
The president on Thursday again refused to confirm he will seek another five-year term.
