Paris, France - January 17, 2025 The French Prime Minister, the centrist François Bayrou, launched Friday the process of consultation on pensions for unions and employers to try to reach an agreement that could modify the contested reform of 2023. Bayrou, flanked by his ministers of Economy, Labor and Public Function, met with the heads of the main trade unions and employers' organizations to set the rules of this concertation, which should last three months once the Court of Auditors presents a report on the financial situation of the pension system. Camera: EDGAR SAPIÑA MANCHADO. SOUNDBITES OF MARYLISE LÉON, GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE FIRST UNION, THE CONFÉDÉRATION FRANÇAISE DÉMOCRATIQUE DU TRAVAIL (CFDT), AND SOPHIE BINET, GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE SECOND UNION, THE CONFÉDÉRATION GÉNÉRALE DU TRAVAIL (CGT), BEFORE THE MEETING AT THE FRENCH MINISTRY OF LABOR TO NEGOTIATE A NEW PENSION REFORM WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND EMPLOYERS. TRANSLATION: 1. Marylise Léon, general secretary of the French Democratic Confederation of Labor (CFDT). The agreement is possible and for the CFDT... The Prime Minister had raised the question of having different scenarios and in particular the fact that there is no agreement, but the CFDT does not place itself in this scenario at all. We have to be able to have calm discussions and have everybody put everything on the table and then see what agreements are possible. 2. Sophie Binet, general secretary of the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) This reform remains unacceptable. It must be repealed, which confirms what we have been saying for 2 years. Today is a first meeting that will allow us to talk about the method. The CGT has never participated and will never participate in any conclave (in reference to the expression used by the Prime Minister, François Bayrou). For the CGT, the debates must be held under the watchful eye of the wage earners. [Restrictions: Spain, Latin America, or the U.S. Hispanic market]