The decision was enough to contain, for now, a motion of censure that could bring down the government for the third time in less than a year
The Prime Minister of , managed to postpone this Tuesday (14) a new political crisis in the country by proposing the suspension of the pension reform, one of President Emmanuel Macron’s main and most unpopular measures. The decision was enough to contain, for now, a motion of censure that could bring down the government — the third in less than a year.
Suspension of the reform was a demand from the socialist opposition to avoid voting to dismiss the prime minister. The parliamentary leader of the Socialist Party, Boris Vallaud, confirmed his support for Lecornu’s proposal, although he classified the gesture as “a risky bet”. “We are capable of reaching compromises, we have already demonstrated that. We are capable of overthrowing a government, we have done this twice. Our only guide is the interest of the country and the French,” said Vallaud.
The head of the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure, reinforced the decision and asked parliamentarians to follow the party’s guidance. “When there is a vote and it is almost unanimous, it must be respected,” Faure told broadcaster TF1. The reform, approved in 2023, increases the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64 years by 2030 and extends the minimum contribution period for full retirement to 43 years from 2027. The measure provoked large protests across the country and became a symbol of Macron’s political wear and tear.
In his speech, Lecornu — aged 39 and considered one of the president’s closest allies — announced that he intends to suspend the application of the reform until the 2027 presidential elections. “There will be no delay in age until January 2028,” he stated. “The contribution duration will also remain frozen at 170 quarters until January 2028.” The decision, however, generated divisions within the government and criticism from the right, which dominates the Senate. The leader of the conservative Republican party, Bruno Retailleau, accused the prime minister of giving in to pressure from socialists.
“Lecornu is a hostage of the socialists with this incomprehensible decision, which leads us directly to the wall of the financial crisis,” he declared in a statement. Despite the tension, the measure was received as a “first victory” by the left and the unions, who are calling for the reform to be definitively revoked. Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Regroupment (RN) party maintained its support for the motion of censure that will be voted on on Thursday (16).
Lecornu acknowledged that the suspension will have an estimated cost of up to 1.8 billion euros (around R$11.3 billion) by 2027, benefiting around 3.5 million French people. “It will be necessary to offset the cost,” said the premier, adding that the budget plan for 2026 already foresees a fiscal effort of 30 billion euros to contain the public deficit and reduce debt, which today is equivalent to 115.8% of GDP.
Lecornu’s gesture of conciliation eased political tension in Paris and helped calm financial markets, worried about political instability and the risk of new early elections — a scenario that Macron himself once again considered if the government were to fall.
*With information from AFP
