The French government has formalized the suspension of the pension reform until January 2028 through a rectificative letter to the social security budget, presented on October 23, 2025. This measure, costing 100 million euros in 2026 and 1.4 billion in 2027, will be funded by under-indexing pensions and increasing contributions from health insurers. Unions and opposition parties denounce an unfair burden on current retirees.
The pension reform, adopted on April 14, 2023, and providing for a gradual increase in the legal retirement age to 64 as well as an rise in the number of quarters required for a full pension, is suspended until January 2028. Announced by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu in his general policy statement on October 14, 2025, this decision was formalized on Thursday, October 23, 2025, in the Council of Ministers via a rectificative letter to the social security financing bill (PLFSS) for 2026.
The cost of this suspension amounts to 100 million euros in 2026 and 1.4 billion euros in 2027, an estimate lower than the initial figures given by Lecornu (400 million and 1.8 billion). It stems from earlier retirements, increasing expenditures and reducing contributions. To fund it, the government proposes freezing base pensions in 2026 and revaluing them in 2027 by 0.85 points (estimated tobacco-excluded inflation of 1.75% minus 0.9 points of under-indexation). Health complementary organizations will see their contribution rise from 2.05% to 2.25% in 2026.
Lecornu, on the sidelines of a visit to Romainville (Seine-Saint-Denis), promised a parliamentary debate on this financing, described as a "proposal" that is not definitive and open to amendments from consensus with committees, chambers, and social partners. "The rectificative letter is what will allow the debate to go all the way," he stated.
Criticism is mounting. Yvan Ricordeau (CFDT) denounces "almost two blank years for retirees in 2026 and 2027," while Denis Gravouil (CGT) regrets that "a micro-suspension is paid for by current and future retirees." Rémi Servot (ANR) calls the project "quite scandalous." On the left, Éric Coquerel (LFI) sees it as a "game of dupes," Cyrielle Chatelain (ecologists) as a way to make the postponement "unbearable," and Marine Le Pen (RN) as a budget that "heavily" hits retirees. The PS is blamed by LFI for enabling this by avoiding censure.
Emmanuel Macron sowed confusion by stating from Slovenia on Tuesday that the reform was neither "abrogated" nor "suspended" ad vitam aeternam, though his entourage denied any conflict with Lecornu. Matignon insists on a "loyal and sincere" debate starting Monday in Parliament.
