Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced on Tuesday the suspension of the 2023 pension reform until the 2027 presidential election, in exchange for the Socialist Party's commitment not to vote censure. This concession aims to stabilize the government amid political instability. The measure pauses the raising of the legal retirement age to 64 and the acceleration of the contribution period.
During his general policy speech at the National Assembly on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced the suspension of the pension reform adopted in April 2023 under Élisabeth Borne. This reform planned to raise the legal retirement age from 62 to 64 and accelerate the contribution period to 172 quarters by 2027. Currently, the age is 62 years and 9 months, with 170 quarters required.
The suspension, effective until the 2027 presidential election, affects about 3.5 million people born between 1964 and 1968, who could retire three months earlier than planned. It will be included via an amendment to the Social Security financing bill (PLFSS) submitted in November. Lecornu clarified that «suspendre, ce n’est pas renoncer, ce n’est pas reculer non plus» (suspending is neither renouncing nor retreating), estimating the cost at 400 million euros in 2026 and 1.8 billion in 2027.
In exchange, the Socialist Party (PS), led by Olivier Faure, committed not to support the censure motions debated on Thursday, October 16. Faure received a text from Lecornu saying «Je prends mon risque» (I'm taking my risk) before the announcement and briefly smiled during the speech. PS deputy Philippe Brun called it «the biggest victory for the social movement since the withdrawal of the CPE in 2006».
The government also proposes handing over pension system management to social partners through a conference to make proposals by spring 2026. Lecornu cited the Agirc-Arrco example and stated: «J’ai confiance dans la démocratie sociale» (I trust social democracy). Criticisms abound: editorialist Gaëtan de Capèle denounces a «sacrifice of young generations», while Bruno Retailleau calls it a «spectacular reversal» with «exorbitant» cost. The CFDT hails a «trade union victory», but the CGT remains cautious, calling for abrogation.
