Despite obstacles, the debate in the French National Assembly on its reform continues this week pension system of the country.

The prime minister Elizabeth Bourne, leaning towards the opposition, he made it clear that those workers who have completed 43 years of work will be allowed to retire before reaching the age of 64.

However, the major issue is the delay tactic chosen by the largest part of the left opposition, tabling 14,000 amendments to the bill concerning her insurance reform. Given that the French government has set a deadline for the end of the consultation on Friday 17 February, it is certain that there will not be time for votes on all the articles of the bill. This possibility has caused the discomfort of trade unions, which are seeking a vote in the National Assembly at least on Article 7 of the bill which sets the retirement age at 64 from the current 62.

To make things easier, the coalition of parties of the left Nupes withdrew a thousand amendments. However, the leader of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who did not want to be an MP again, argues in favor of the need to “swamp” the government. “People expect us to block reform. He won’t blame us for blocking the text,” he said.

New strikes are planned for next Thursday, while trade unionists argue that if the bill is not withdrawn by March 7, France will enter a period of general strikes.