Lecornu Proposes Suspension of Macron’s Pension Reform to Avoid Government Collapse
In a stunning political turn, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has announced his intention to suspend the controversial 2023 pension reform, a key policy of President Emmanuel Macron, as his government faces two crucial votes of no confidence later this week.
Addressing parliament on Tuesday, Lecornu declared, “This autumn I will propose to parliament that we suspend the 2023 pension reform until the 2027 presidential election.” His statement drew applause from left-wing lawmakers, many of whom have long opposed the changes that raised the retirement age from 62 to 64.
The move represents a dramatic shift in tone from Macron’s administration and signals Lecornu’s desperate attempt to secure parliamentary backing and prevent the collapse of his fragile government.
A Bid for Survival Amid Political Uncertainty
Lecornu, who was reappointed as prime minister just days after resigning last week, faces intense political pressure from both the far right and far left, who have jointly called for no-confidence votes on Thursday morning.
To remain in power, Lecornu needs the support of Socialist Party MPs, who have made their conditions clear: they will back his government only if he fully and immediately suspends Macron’s pension reform.
“If he does not explicitly say the words ‘immediate and complete suspension of the pension reform,’ it will be censure,” Socialist MP Laurent Baumel warned during a televised interview. “He knows what he must do if he doesn’t want to be the prime minister who resigns every week.”
For Lecornu, this vote could decide not only his political survival but also the stability of Macron’s presidency, already weakened by multiple cabinet reshuffles and months of unrest.
The Pension Reform That Shook France
The 2023 pension reform remains one of the most divisive policies in modern French politics. Introduced by President Macron as part of his promise to modernize France’s social system, the reform raised the legal retirement age from 62 to 64 and adjusted contribution periods to ensure financial sustainability.
However, the law was pushed through parliament in March 2023 without a vote, using Article 49.3 of the French Constitution — a controversial mechanism that allows a government to bypass parliamentary approval.
That decision sparked nationwide strikes, protests, and political outrage, with millions of French citizens taking to the streets in opposition. Lecornu himself acknowledged last week that the use of 49.3 left “a wound on democracy” that many in France have not forgotten.
Economic Costs of the Suspension
Despite the political necessity of suspending the reform, Lecornu admitted that such a decision would come with a significant financial cost. Speaking before parliament, he outlined that the suspension would cost €400 million in 2026 and €1.8 billion in 2027, money that would need to be offset by other spending cuts.
“These costs will have to be compensated by savings elsewhere,” he said, emphasizing that France must still work toward reducing its mounting budget deficit and staggering public debt.
France’s budget deficit is expected to reach 5.4% of GDP this year, while the country’s public debt has ballooned to nearly €3.4 trillion, or about 114% of GDP — the third highest in the eurozone, behind only Greece and Italy.
Lecornu’s government now faces the difficult task of balancing political stability with fiscal responsibility, a challenge that has toppled more than one administration in recent French history.
Political Stakes and Growing Pressure
Lecornu is France’s third prime minister in just one year, a sign of the ongoing turbulence plaguing Macron’s second term. His predecessor, Gabriel Attal, resigned earlier this month after losing parliamentary support amid widespread discontent over economic inequality and cost-of-living pressures.
Analysts say Lecornu’s decision to suspend the pension reform reflects a calculated political gamble. By offering a concession to the left, he hopes to stave off an immediate collapse — but risks alienating Macron’s centrist and conservative base, many of whom view the reform as essential for long-term fiscal health.
“Lecornu is walking a tightrope,” said political analyst Claire Marchand. “If he suspends the reform, he may keep his government alive for now, but it could weaken Macron’s credibility as a reformist president.”
Support from Nobel Laureate and Economists
Even some prominent economists have voiced support for Lecornu’s plan. Philippe Aghion, the French economist who won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Economics this week, said that suspending the pension reform was the right move under the circumstances.
“The cost of suspension would be smaller than the cost of another government collapse,” Aghion told reporters. “Political instability has a direct impact on investment confidence and economic growth.”
His remarks added weight to the growing argument that restoring political calm may be more beneficial to France’s economy than pushing ahead with an unpopular reform.
Macron’s Legacy at Stake
For President Emmanuel Macron, the pension reform was supposed to be the defining achievement of his second term — a legacy project symbolizing economic modernization and fiscal discipline. Instead, it has become a political albatross, triggering protests, strikes, and plunging approval ratings.
Lecornu’s public decision to back away from the reform suggests that even Macron’s closest allies now see compromise as the only path forward. Analysts believe that if Lecornu’s government falls in Thursday’s censure votes, Macron may have little choice but to call early parliamentary elections, a move that could reshape the political landscape ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
The Road Ahead
As France braces for Thursday’s crucial vote, the stakes could not be higher. A loss of confidence would almost certainly force Lecornu to resign again, deepening the crisis within Macron’s administration and potentially paralyzing governance.
For now, Lecornu’s fate — and perhaps Macron’s — hinges on whether his promise to suspend the pension reform will be enough to appease the Socialist bloc and maintain a fragile majority in the National Assembly.
“The French people have endured years of uncertainty,” said one union leader outside parliament. “It’s time for the government to listen, not dictate. Suspending this reform is a first step — but it cannot be the last.”