French Senate Advances Law to Boost Local Officials' Remuneration and Retirement Benefits

The French Senate resumed deliberations on a bill aimed at encouraging local elected officials' engagement by improving their remuneration and pension conditions, with a vote scheduled for Wednesday. Supported by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, a former mayor, the bipartisan legislation responds to a crisis marked by the resignation of an average 40 mayors monthly across France, as reported by the Association of French Mayors (AMF).

Key measures include raising allowances for mayors and their deputies, notably increasing the maximum mayoral allowance in 2,000-inhabitant communes from €2,121 to €2,290. Additionally, the bill grants an extra retirement quarter per mandate, capped at three quarters per career, at an estimated cost of €230 million. The law also proposes support mechanisms such as maternity and sick leave, post-mandate reintegration, and extended electoral leave to 20 days to better balance public service with professional life.

A controversial clause requiring mayors to publicly affirm their commitment to republican values was withdrawn following AMF pushback, though the existing mandate to read a local officials' charter was amended to emphasize secularism and republican symbols. Minister Françoise Gatel underscored the law's importance for French democracy amid concerns municipalities may face candidate shortages in upcoming elections.

This development builds on ongoing national discussions around pension reforms but focuses specifically on local level officials' welfare, demonstrating government efforts to sustain local political engagement.