Prime Minister Francois Bayrou firmly dismissed the notion of reverting the basic retirement age in France back to 62 during a statement on Sunday, effectively limiting the options available for unions and employers engaged in discussions regarding the contentious pension reform.
Leading a fragile minority government, Bayrou expressed willingness to revisit the 2023 reform, which includes the debated increase of the retirement age from 62 to 64 years, in an effort to gain implicit support from the opposition Socialists in parliament.
He instructed representatives from unions and businesses to explore potential changes, emphasizing that all proposals would be considered as long as they addressed the funding deficit.
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In an interview with France Inter radio, when asked about the possibility of returning to a retirement age of 62, he responded with a definitive “No.”
Bayrou highlighted that the participants in the social conference are well aware of the financial realities, referencing a report from France’s audit office that forecasts ongoing deficits even after the implementation of the 2023 reform.
Moreover, he indicated that adjusting the retirement age is not the sole avenue for reforming the pension system.
Should unions and employers be unable to reach a consensus on new proposals, the government intends to move forward with the 2023 reform as planned.
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