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yesterday

French Assembly Passes Social Security Budget, Pauses Pension Reform

The narrow lower-house win moves the bill to a Senate that opposes suspending the retirement-age increase.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu looks on at France's National Assembly as parliament members vote on a national health care budget that would suspend Macron's unpopular pension reform raising the retirement age, in Paris, France, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu looks on at France's National Assembly as parliament members vote on a national health care budget that would suspend Macron's unpopular pension reform raising the retirement age, in Paris, France, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Image
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, second right, listens to French Finance Minister Roland Lescure, left, at France's National Assembly as parliament members vote on a national health care budget that would suspend Macron's unpopular pension reform raising the retirement age, in Paris, France, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Overview

  • France’s National Assembly approved the social security budget 247–234, giving Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu short-term breathing room.
  • The bill freezes the 2023 plan to raise the retirement age to 64 until after the 2027 presidential election.
  • Socialist lawmakers backed the package following the pension pause, while National Rally and France Unbowed opposed it and some center-right allies balked.
  • The text now goes to the Senate, where opposition to the suspension could produce changes before a return to the lower house; the Senate votes on the separate state budget on December 15.
  • Lecornu warned defeat would risk a funding gap of about €30 billion, and France still faces high deficits; some reports say the package also boosts hospital funding and raises social levies on asset income.