French PM Lecornu Tentatively Opens Door to Pension Reform Suspension Amidst Budget Negotiations
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu explores suspending the pension reform and negotiating a budget with left-wing parties to stabilize France's political crisis.
- • Sébatien Lecornu signals possible suspension of pension reform during final crisis negotiations.
- • Discussions with Socialists, Communists, and Ecologists aim to secure a budget by December 31, 2025.
- • Former PM Elisabeth Borne, a pension reform supporter, now endorses suspension possibility.
- • Financial implications of suspending reforms could reach billions in coming years.
- • Right-wing politicians oppose suspension; Mélenchon critiques Socialist leader's government alignment.
Key details
On October 8, 2025, resigning French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu signaled a potential suspension of the controversial pension reform during intense political negotiations aimed at resolving a prolonged government crisis. Lecornu is engaged in final discussions with left-wing parties—the Socialists, Communists, and Ecologists—to explore ways to ensure political stability and secure a budget by the end of the year.
While Lecornu declined to discuss details of the pension reform during his latest press conference, he underscored a widespread political will to finalize a budget by December 31, 2025, an outcome believed critical to avoiding the dissolution of Parliament and facilitating smoother municipal elections. Lecornu also announced a suspension of indemnities for resigning ministers, emphasizing fiscal responsibility amid tensions.
Notably, former Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne, who championed the pension reform earlier in the year, expressed openness to suspending it—a stance welcomed by leftist leaders such as Raphaël Glucksmann and Olivier Faure, who advocate for a left-wing Prime Minister appointment. Faure stresses the need to address multiple societal issues beyond pensions. Conversely, right-wing figures like Valérie Pécresse and Bruno Retailleau warn that suspending the reform would represent a moral failure and resist leftist or Macronist leadership.
Criticism has also come from within left circles; Jean-Luc Mélenchon condemned Socialist leader Olivier Faure's alignment with President Macron’s government, calling it a "consternating rally." Financial implications of a reform suspension are severe: Economy Minister Roland Lescure cites costs reaching hundreds of millions in 2026 and billions by 2027. The Finance Ministry corroborates these projections, estimating 500 million euros in 2026 and 3 billion euros in 2027.
Meanwhile, amid the political turmoil, a poll shows the National Rally's Jordan Bardella leading presidential election scenarios, illustrating rising challenges for mainstream parties. The crisis continues with the National Assembly preparing to examine a motion for Macron’s destitution, heightening political uncertainty.
Today's developments mark a pivotal moment as Lecornu seeks a compromise to quell the crisis, balancing fiscal prudence, political alliances, and public sentiment ahead of critical upcoming elections.