On July 14, 2017, France’s new president, Emmanuel Macron, took office with a mandate to overhaul the country’s Pension System. The overhaul, named La Réforme du Pensionnariat, goals to boost pensions and encourage retirement savings.
One of the first areas of La Réforme du Pensionnariat was to amend the Pension System’s Automatic Transfer System (AST). This amendment, which was published in the Journal officiel on July 22, 2017, impacts the classification of employees into two Casting Classes: salaried and non-salaried. The change will add an additional 2,500 employees to the ast group, effective from 2018.
TheAST amendment will also add an additional 500 retirees to the ast group effective from 2018. Additionally, the government will reduce the retirement age for public sector employees to 60 from 67, effective from 2020.
Despite these changes, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done in order to improve the Pension System. For example, the government still needs to gain public support to implement the pension reforms, and they also need to work on improving the system’s affordability.
– France: Prior to the government of Emmanuel Macron, the running started with the government having a confidence vote
Prior to the government of Emmanuel Macron, the running started with the government having a confidence vote
The legislative branch of the French government is split into two chambers: the National Assembly and the Senate. Before the government of Emmanuel Macron, it was a crucial parliamentary tradition for the new prime minister to receive a confidence vote from the National Assembly. This practice has been observed in France since the end of World War II. The prime minister is appointed by the President, and if the parliament does not give their vote of confidence, its dissolution and new election is mandatory.
During this confidence vote, the prime minister’s ability to lead the country is evaluated by the members of the National Assembly. These votes usually take place after the new prime minister formalizes his government with the appointment of his ministers. The confidence vote serves as an indication of whether or not the majority of the parliament will support the new government in its pursuit of legislative change. The outcome of this vote has a direct impact on the government’s mandate and its capacity to govern effectively.
- The French confidence vote is a way to ensure that the prime minister and its government have a strong majority in parliament
- If the confidence vote fails, the government falls, and a new election is held
- A positive confidence vote also reinforces the link between the President and the Prime Minister
The practice of confidence vote is a crucial parliamentary tradition in France, and it serves as a critical check and balance of the executive power. Today, the confidence vote still plays a fundamental role in the French government structure, but it has been somewhat devalued in recent years. Many analysts argue that the strength of political parties has decreased over time, and as a result, the majority in parliament is not always clear. Nevertheless, the confidence vote remains a crucial part of the French political process.
– The French: “What are France’s pension reform plans?”
France is facing a daunting challenge regarding its pension system. The French pension system has several different plans and is dominated by pay-as-you-go schemes. Currently, the country has a deficit of €17 billion ($19 billion) in the pension system, which is forcing the government to find ways to address this issue.
The government’s latest pension reform plan aims to create a universal points-based pension scheme, known as the “points system.” The new plan aims to replace the current system and intends to make the pension system fairer and more transparent. The introduction of the “points system” will impact every worker in France, and it is the biggest overhaul of the system since World War II. With the new pension plan, the retirement age is expected to change, and the government will generate savings by cutting down on early retirement options. While the new pension plan’s primary goal is to achieve a balanced system, it has encountered significant opposition from labor unions in the country, and there have been protests throughout France.
– Germany: “Pension reform in Germany? What are the plans?”
Germany is currently facing a major pension crisis. With an aging population and declining birth rates, the existing pension system is unsustainable. As such, there have been discussions on the need to reform the pension system.
The government has proposed a number of measures to address the issue. These include:
- Increasing the retirement age
- Introducing a mandatory private pension scheme for employees
- Adjusting pension benefits to reflect changes in life expectancy
In addition to these measures, there have also been discussions on making contributions to the pension system more flexible, allowing for individuals to contribute more to their pension accounts as their income grows.
Overall, the proposed reforms aim to ensure that the pension system remains sustainable in the long term, while providing retirees with a stable and reliable source of income in their retirement years.
– Italy: “Pension reform in Italy? What are the plans?”
Italy: “Pension reform in Italy? What are the plans?”
Italy, as a nation, is faced with the challenge of modernizing its pension system in order to cope with ever-increasing life expectancy rates of the population. Currently, Italy has one of the most generous pension systems in the world, but to maintain its financial sustainability, the government is contemplating several reforms. Some of the proposed changes, which are being discussed, include:
- Increasing the retirement age gradually from 67 to 69 years, by 2032.
- Introducing a points-based system to calculate pension eligibility, considering an individual’s contribution period, pensionable salary, and future life expectancy.
- Encouraging the re-entry of older workers into the labor market, by providing incentives to employers who hire workers over the age of 60.
The government aims to achieve sustainability, while at the same time, ensuring a dignified lifestyle for the elderly citizens. These reforms have caused tensions in Italian society, sparking controversy among trade unions and civil society groups who wish to maintain the current system that heavily favors retirees.
Nonetheless, the pension system in Italy, like in most advanced economies, may not be able to survive current demographic trends. Therefore, the Italian government is forced to amend the existing pension system to safeguard the stability of the economy and the lives of its citizens. The pension reform aims to keep the system equitable, sustainable and financially viable in the long run. It is vital to have a balance between the contributions and benefits of the workers, as well as taking into account the expectations of the retirees. The reform will prove beneficial in the long run by providing stability to the pension system and creating incentives for older workers to continue to work.
– Spain: “Spain’s pension reform: What are the plans?”
Spain’s pension system is undergoing reform as the country grapples with an aging population and a shrinking workforce. Here are the key plans:
- Retirement age will gradually increase from 65 to 67 years old by 2027.
- The government is encouraging voluntary and incentivized part-time work after retirement age.
- Pensions will be calculated using the full length of a worker’s career rather than the last 25 years.
While the reforms have been met with praise for their attempt to maintain the sustainability of the pension system, some critics argue that they disproportionately impact women and lower-income workers who may not have as much access to part-time work opportunities or stable employment contracts. Nonetheless, the Spanish government hopes that the reforms will ensure the country’s pension system remains viable in the decades to come.
French president Emmanuel Macron’s government is facing a confidence vote in the lower house of parliament following a Compte rendu de l’assemblée nationale (Report of the National Assembly) that found major shortcomings in its pension reform proposal.
The vote, set for Wednesday, is a major test for Macron’s reform efforts as he tries to maintain majority in the legislature and maintain pressure on his conservative predecessor, François Hollande.
The report found that many French citizens could not afford to retire, and that the state was critical of the reform proposal because it would make welfare and labor concessions too expensive.
The government is expected to win the vote, but a major challenge will be passing it through the ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
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