Since the beginning of the week, the hashtags “liar” and “lies” have alternated at the top of trends on Twitter. Most publications display the passage of government spokesman Olivier Véran on the issue of the revaluation of retirement pensions. The excerpt is a passage from the program “Political Questions” on France Inter, this Sunday, where the minister returned to the question of minimum retirement by muddled on elements already announced by the government. “The biggest crash in history,” laughs internet users.
Critics shared by the deputies in the National Assembly on Monday, where the elected representatives of the opposition castigated “the lies of the government”. “Retirement at 1,200 euros, today we no longer know what is going on (…). We learn that the number of French people concerned is becoming ridiculous ”, notably criticized the deputy RN Jean-Philippe Tanguy. “You lied to the French”, condemned the rebellious Clémente Autain.
While Olivier Véran invited Thomas Snégaroff to “check the archives” this Sunday, a chronological work is necessary to better understand the question of minimum retirement. 20 minutes has therefore gone back in time.
A timeline through fact checking
- January 11, 2023: Véran ignites
On January 11, Olivier Véran was the guest of 8:30 am on France Info. Facing Salhia Brakhlia and Marc Fauvelle, the government spokesperson announces that the minimum pension will be “increased by 100 euros per month”. “Two million current retirees, who have a pension of less than 1,200 euros, will see their pension increased to 1,200 euros gross per month”, adds the politician.
- January 28, 2023: Schiappa board
Back on the set of France Info, but with a different protagonist. On January 28, Marlène Schiappa also defended the pension reform and the minimum pension of 1,200 euros. A measure which, according to her, would be beneficial for women. “Today, indeed, there are very significant inequalities in retirement between women and men. This is also why we put a floor at 1,200 euros.
- February 2 and 6, 2023: The Mayor persists
Guest on the set of LCI, on February 2, the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire went further: “As regards the retirement pension at 1,200 euros gross, it is open to anyone who has contributed for all of his quarters and who has been paid at minimum wage level,” explains Bruno Le Maire. And adds: “Today, 800,000 people are retiring. 200,000 people will be able to use this device. Everyone will not necessarily be at 1,200 euros gross because everyone will not necessarily have contributed all of their quarters”, finally explaining that the reform is an “improvement”.
During the 8:20 a.m. interview on France Inter, four days later, the Minister of the Economy returns. “they [les députés LR] said that 65 was too much, we accepted their proposal to go to 64. They said that the minimum pension at 1,200 euros, it would be better to do it also for those who are already retired, we have it do “.
- February 9, 2023: Riester gets tangled
On the set of BFMTV, this time, the Minister in charge of Relations with Parliament Franck Riester answered Aurélie Casse’s question: “Why not just say that we were going to revalue certain small pensions? Why did you give this mirage a pension at 1,200 euros? “That is fake news. We never said we were going to give 1,200 euros to everyone. We have always said that there were going to be 1.8 million retirees who would have their pensions upgraded, ”replies the minister. “Even that is false”, adds the journalist, recalling that full part-time careers were not concerned.
- February 12, 2023: Véran refocuses his shot
A month after his first intervention, Olivier Véran backpedals on the set of the show Political issues of France Inter, Sunday, February 12. “Someone who has contributed a full career to the SMIC will be able to receive a minimum revalued pension of 1,200 euros. […] 1.8 million retirees will have an increase in their minimum pension which takes into account the number of years worked and the salary. »
The importance of verifying information… Thomas Snégaroff echoes this announcement: “The magic number of 1,200 euros is missing”. Olivier Véran: “The figure of 1,200 euros is a full career at minimum wage. […] When you don’t have a full career at the SMIC, you can have a revaluation”.
Who is really affected?
Since the start of the reform, the government has promised this famous minimum of 1,200 euros per month in pension after a full career at the minimum wage. But never advances on the number of people concerned [à part pour Olivier Véran au mois de janvier]. Over the sets, everyone seems to get lost among the announcements, despite the number of reminders from journalists who must take on the role of “fact checker” live.
So what is it really? To receive these 1,200 euros – which also correspond to 85% of the net Smic – it will therefore be necessary to validate all these quarters with remuneration at the Smic. Part-time careers will have remuneration, but which “will not necessarily reach 1,200 euros, even with a full career”, finally corrected Olivier Dussopt. The increase could therefore be between 25 and 100 euros per month depending on the profiles, still according to the minister.
“250,000 additional retirees”
On France Inter, this Wednesday, the Minister of Labor put forward new figures: 1.8 million current retirees “will see their pension revalued”. “This means that we have a total of 250,000 additional retirees in our country who will cross the threshold of 85% of the minimum wage among current retirees,” he continued.
For future retirees now, the minister explains that of the 800,000 new retirees, a quarter will have an increased pension. “When I am told how many thanks to this reform will pass the 85% mark of the minimum wage? We have a forecast, it happened to me last night: 40,000 more people each year, ”adds Olivier Dussopt. Those below this cap would be employees with incomplete careers.