French Prime Minister Bayrou open to changing pension laws

Catastrophic state expenditures and a controversial pension reform were the main themes when France's newly appointed Prime Minister François Bayrou made his maiden speech in the National Assembly.

» Published: January 14 2025

French Prime Minister Bayrou open to changing pension laws
Photo: Thibault Camus/AP/TT

Bayrou, who took office as French Prime Minister in December, is open to renegotiating the controversial pension reform that raised the retirement age from 62 to 64 years.

In his first speech to the National Assembly, Bayrou said the issue would be revisited "in a short time and in a transparent process".

The reform, which was one of President Emmanuel Macron's key issues, led to widespread protests in France in the spring of 2023 before it was pushed through.

Bayrou proposed a meeting with representatives from, among others, trade unions and employers, who would come up with a compromise solution to the pension issue within a strict three-month period.

But the Prime Minister's biggest task is to get a budget for 2025 through. After the previous government's collapse, emergency laws have been passed to, among other things, collect taxes and avoid a shutdown of state institutions.

France is also struggling with large national debts and a significant budget deficit.

Extensive cuts will be proposed, said Bayrou without specifying any.

He did, however, set a goal for France's budget deficit to meet the EU's requirement of a maximum of three percent of GDP by 2029, with last year's deficit estimated to be six percent of GDP.

The task we have been given is to restore stability to the country, noted Bayrou.

France's previous government, led by Michel Barnier, held power for three months before being ousted in a vote of no confidence.

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By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

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