French pension reform: Our articles to fully understand Macron's plan (2024)

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French PM Elisabeth Borne unveiled on January 10 a highly anticipated pension overhaul aimed at pushing back the retirement age.

Le Monde

Published on January 10, 2023, at 8:38 pm (Paris), updated on January 31, 2023, at 8:20 am

3 min read

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne unveiled on Tuesday, January 10, her government's pension reform. The reform is a long-time promise of President Emmanuel Macron and was a cornerstone of his 2022 re-election campaign.

The issue of pensions is sensitive, as it touches upon France's complicated relationship to work and threatens one of the most generous pension systems in Europe, if not the world.

Here are all our articles to understand what's at stake.

What is the reform about?

Speaking at a news conference in Paris, Borne said the reform plans to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, while allowing exceptions for long careers and raising the minimum pension.

Read more Pension reform: French PM Borne vouches for 'fair' project

Given that many people above the age of 55 struggle with job security, the government plans to encourage businesses to hold on to older workers by creating a "senior index" which could help spot age-related discrimination.

Read more French pension reform: What is the senior index that the government wants to put in place?

The government's rhetoric is based on the idea that everyone must contribute to the reform, but it has stopped short from changing how things work for current retirees.

Read more Subscribers only French pension reform: Making pensioners contribute is the big taboo

What does public opinion say?

The government is aware that the reform inspires at best resignation and at worse rejection. They are uncertain about the level of resistance, such as roadblocks and protests, but on the eve of the presentation of the reform, the government was filled with regret, feeling that it should have done more to convince people of the need for change.

Read more Pension reform: French government fails to win over public opinion

What do the unions say?

Despite three months of talks with the government, all major French unions are still firmly opposed to the reform project. For the first time in 12 years, they have called for a joint demonstration for "powerful long-term strikes and protests" to prevent any increase in the minimum retirement age.

On Thursday, January 19, unions organized the first nationwide strike against the reform, which will provide a chance to measure the movement's strength.

Read more Pension reform strikes: Macron takes on the streets

Read more Pension reform: Over a million march in protest throughout France

The CFDT, France's largest labor union known for its moderate approach, has either supported or rejected different plans to reform the French pension system but it has always opposed the idea of raising the legal retirement age.

Read more Pension reform: What France's largest labor union has to say about it

Columnist Gilles Paris: The mother of all social battles

The CGT union, meanwhile, takes a more hardline position. Some local branches are ready to partake in more subversive action, like lowering bakers' electricity bills.

Read more Subscribers only French pension reform: Leaders from hardline CGT union want to hit bosses' wallets

What does the opposition say?

Right-wing party Les Républicains (LR) has influenced the reform, with which it has been closely associated. The government is now counting on the votes of LR MPs, while the left and France's trade unions have called for a day of demonstrations.

Read more When it comes to pension reform, the right is the government's indispensable ally

But ahead of the debates in the Assemblée Nationale, some right-wing lawmakers have expressed their opposition to some measures in the reform. In fact, even some of Macron's supporters in the Assemblée are uneasy with some aspects. The vote could be very tight.

Read more Pension reform: French government sees task complicated by hesitant lawmakers

On the left, radical-left MP François Ruffin showed that he was capable of bringing together his political family perhaps better than Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who is often more divisive.

Read more Pension reform: François Ruffin, the MP kicking off the left's counter-attack

The opposition has also attacked the government using the government's own report which suggested may delay retirement by longer for women than for men.

Read more French pension reform is 'anti-women', says opposition

What does it mean for Macron?

President Macron's desire to see through his pension reform is linked to his wish to prevent France's borrowing rates from rising.

Read more Macron's pension reform is designed to reassure financial markets

For six years, the French president's desire to reform the pension system has been constantly thwarted. Here's a look back at what happened since 2017.

Read more Pensions: The cursed reform that has haunted Macron for five years

Some of Macron's key allies are cautious in their support for the reform. Though they support it, they know it is unpopular and their sights are already set on the next presidential election.

Read more Pension reform: Philippe and Bayrou, Macron's two dissonant allies

Digging deeper

Macron and the French government insist raising the retirement age it is the only way to save the current redistributive system. But is it really?

Read more Subscribers only Is delaying the retirement age the only way to save France's pension system?

According to some political leaders, things are just getting started. In the long run, more changes may be needed to France's pensions system.

Read more Subscribers only Why this pension reform will not be the last

Senior unemployment is a big issue in France. Extending the retirement age without reforming senior citizens' employment will mean risking that those in their 60s will once again be sidelined.

Read more Subscribers only Pension reform: Addressing the issue of senior citizens' employment is imperative

France has made several commitments to the European Commission to reform its pension system, but nothing formally forces France to act.

Read more Is the French pension reform dictated by Brussels?

Read more Subscribers only France's pension reform is also much about the EU

Life expectancy has increased in France as in most developed countries. But this average masks important disparities according to gender, social categories and jobs held. And it conceals the health problems that can limit the quality of life of the elderly.

Read more Pension reform: How long, and in what health, do the French live after 65?

The pension system is highly dependent on the age structure of France's population. So why are we not talking about demographics and immigration more, wonders Le Monde columnist Philippe Bernard.

Read more Subscribers only 'Demographics and immigration, two taboos of the French pension reform'

From the Opinion section

Editorial Pension reform: France faces an insurmountable divide

Le Monde columnist Solenn de Royer In the battle over pensions, 'Emmanuel Macron is like a war chief without any weapons'

Economist Thomas Piketty Subscribers only 'It is time for the pension system to focus on small pensions'

Researcher Christiane Marty Subscribers only 'Presenting the pension reform as fair to women is a lot of hogwash'

Economists Nicolas Moreau and Elena Stancanelli Subscribers only 'What if we gave French seniors the choice of retiring between 62 and 67?

Four financial advisers Subscribers only 'French retirees are sitting on an invisible treasure: Latent real estate capital gains'

Economist Philippe Askenazy Subscribers only France's pension reform 'increases inequalities in retirement'

Researcher Bruno Palier The French system 'amplifies inequalities'

Economist Jean Vercherand Subscribers only 'The right and Macron's supporters have relied on flawed economic principles, leading to a dead end'

Working conditions expert Olivier Mérieux Subscribers only Pension reform: 'Raising the retirement age without tangible results for the employment of seniors is hypocritical and dangerous'

Le Monde

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French pension reform: Our articles to fully understand Macron's plan (2024)

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