Presidential Candidates Debate Economic Policies and Retirement Reforms at Medef Event

On August 27, 2026, seven presidential candidates participated in a high-profile debate hosted by Medef at Roland-Garros, engaging directly with business leaders on critical economic issues including government debt, retirement reforms, fiscal policies, and the role of the State.

During the one-on-one exchanges organized by Medef as part of the Rencontre des entrepreneurs de France, candidates laid out contrasting visions for France’s economic future. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of La France insoumise, called for freezing part of the French debt held by the European Central Bank, describing it as "a debt to ourselves," and proposed eliminating all business aid to reduce the fiscal deficit. By contrast, former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe recommended extending working years before retirement, highlighting similar policies adopted across Europe.

Marine Le Pen firmly opposed Philippe’s stance, advocating for returning the retirement age to 62 and stressing policies aimed at boosting youth employment and increasing activity rates among workers. Bruno Retailleau, of Les Républicains, criticized what he termed a damaging "fiscal obsession" that leads to punishing business leaders, and called for stronger economic liberalism and better support for enterprises.

Gabriel Attal acknowledged the shortcomings of President Macron’s policies on aspects such as simplification, housing, and debt management, presenting his own proposals to address these challenges. However, despite the breadth of discussion, some business leaders expressed disappointment, finding the debate lacked sufficiently concrete roadmaps to tackle these pressing issues effectively. Others appreciated the clarifications but noted the exchanges remained overly polite, revealing no clear frontrunner emerging from the event.

The debate underscored that debt management, retirement reforms, and fiscal policies will be pivotal themes in the 2027 presidential campaign. Media outlets like Libération used an applause meter to assess candidate performances, reflecting an engaging yet competitive atmosphere marked by spirited exchanges and pointed critiques.

This Medef debate represents an important early test for candidates to connect with France’s business community, setting the stage for more detailed economic policy discussions as the presidential election approaches.