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5d ago

French Assembly Passes Social Security Budget, Freezing Macron’s Pension Reform

A 247–234 margin buys Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu temporary breathing room before a tougher test in the Senate.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu looks on at France's National Assembly as parliament members vote on a national health care budget that would suspend Macron's unpopular pension reform raising the retirement age, in Paris, France, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu looks on at France's National Assembly as parliament members vote on a national health care budget that would suspend Macron's unpopular pension reform raising the retirement age, in Paris, France, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Image
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, second right, listens to French Finance Minister Roland Lescure, left, at France's National Assembly as parliament members vote on a national health care budget that would suspend Macron's unpopular pension reform raising the retirement age, in Paris, France, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Overview

  • The bill pauses the 2023 increase in the retirement age to 64 until after the 2027 presidential election.
  • Socialists backed the measure after securing concessions, while the far right and hard left opposed it and parts of the center-right balked.
  • The text now returns to the Senate, where leaders have signaled opposition to suspending the retirement overhaul before it circles back to the lower house.
  • Passage averts an immediate funding hole the government warned could swell to about €30 billion for health, pensions and welfare programs.
  • To hold the welfare deficit near €20 billion, at least €4.5 billion was shifted from the main budget, raising questions about deficit targets as a separate 2026 state budget vote looms this month.