Overview

• Sébastien Lecornu announced that volunteer firefighters will receive additional pension quarters beginning in 2026.
• Eligibility is set at one extra quarter after 15 years of service, then one more per additional five years, capped at three quarters in total.
• Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau confirmed the rollout at the firefighters’ congress in Le Mans and estimated the annual cost at €40–40.5 million.
• The national volunteers’ union says it will sue for excess of power, arguing the law provides eligibility after 10 years and noting the implementing decree has not been published.
• Officials present the move as routine application of the April 2023 statute, a point of contention as volunteers make up roughly 200,050 of France’s 255,000 firefighters.