French Prime Minister’s Support for Pension Reform Cancellation Amid No-Confidence Vote
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has expressed his backing for putting a halt to the contentious 2023 pension reform as a significant no-confidence vote approaches this week.
This reform, which increased the retirement age from 62 to 64, was a key initiative during Emmanuel Macron’s presidency. Lecornu announced, “This fall, I will be recommending that Congress postpone pension reform until the 2027 Presidential election,” which received applause from left-wing members.
Recently reappointed as prime minister—just days after resigning—Lecornu must garner support from Socialist parliamentarians to ensure his position is secure.
On Thursday morning, far-left and far-right opposition parties will hold a vote of confidence regarding Lecornu’s government, pushing for parliamentary elections to take place. The Socialist Party has indicated its willingness to back the new government, provided it commits to completely scrapping Macron’s pension changes.
Laurent Baumel, a lawmaker from the Socialist Party, stated on French television, “If we don’t clearly call for an immediate and complete suspension of pension reform, we will face criticism.” He added, “He knows what he must do if he wants to avoid resigning weekly.”
The pension reform had ultimately been passed by parliament in March 2023, shortly after Macron’s re-election. Given the months of political strife, protests, and strikes, the legislation had to be adopted using a constitutional tool called 49-3, which bypassed a parliamentary vote. Lecornu had previously described this as a “scar on democracy.”
During a recent address, Lecornu mentioned that halting the pension reforms could incur costs of €400 million in 2026 and an additional €1.8 billion in 2027. He warned that this would need to be offset by other budgetary cuts.
Even if he remains in office—as France’s third prime minister within a year—Lecornu will require parliamentary approval for a budget aimed at reducing the anticipated budget deficit, projected at around 5.4% of GDP this year.
As of early this year, France’s public debt stood at €3.4 trillion, roughly 114% of its GDP, making it the third highest in the eurozone, following Greece and Italy.
Lecornu, a close ally of Macron, opposing such a divisive reform suggests a strong desire to steer clear of additional instability. Notably, Philippe Aghion, co-winner of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Economics, also backed the cancellation of pension reform, citing the minimal cost relative to the potential chaos from further political upheaval.
He has committed to presenting a “serious and credible budget” and eliminating the reliance on the 49-3 mechanism for passing laws without votes. “The government will propose it, we will discuss it, and you will vote,” he reiterated, emphasizing that Congress would have the final say.
In light of discontent from MPs, Lecornu suggested forming a working group to reevaluate pensions, emphasizing the need for a decision prior to the next presidential election.
France’s budget deficit surpasses the EU’s target of 3% of GDP, and Lecornu acknowledged that reversing pension reforms must be financially compensated, including through spending cuts. He noted that this shouldn’t exacerbate the budget deficit.
Both Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party and Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s radical left France Inbound party voted for a no-confidence act against Lecornu’s administration, though support from centrist factions is crucial for his continuation in power.
Sébastien Chênes from the National Rally confirmed his party will oppose Lecornu, stating, “We won’t be fooled and we won’t be bribed.” Meanwhile, Mathilde Panot from France Inbound criticized Lecornu and Macron, declaring, “No one believes in you anymore.”
Yet, Socialist Boris Barrow characterized Lecornu’s stance on pension reform as a “victory.” “The French have awaited your statement for some time, and we needed a sign that you are listening… Cancellation of pension reform is finally here,” he stated.
With backing from centrists and socialists, Lecornu may secure the votes needed in parliament for his budget. However, the situation remains tight, and any fluctuations in support could risk his position.
Le Pen and Mélenchon argue that new elections are the sole solution to the deadlock created by Macron’s sudden elections in the summer of 2024.
This political standoff erupted last week when Lecornu resigned, just 26 days post-Macron’s reappointment, and mere hours after the government formation. Following a week of political twists, Macron reappointed Lecornu late Friday in what many see as a desperate effort to regain control over an increasingly fragmented parliament since the 2024 elections.
This dysfunction has already led to two prime ministers facing rejection of their annual budget proposals within a short span. Just eight days ago, Lecornu resigned before having to confront MPs.
