Overview

• Three major unions, including CGT, FO, and U2P, have withdrawn from the pension reform conclave, citing the government's refusal to revert the retirement age to 62.
• The remaining five organizations, including CFDT and employer groups, continue discussions focused on workplace hardship and potential adjustments to the reform.
• Public protests against the 2023 pension reform, which raised the retirement age from 62 to 64, have intensified, adding pressure on the government.
• Prime Minister François Bayrou's government remains optimistic about achieving progress, despite the conclave being described by some as in a 'state of brain death.'
• The reform, aimed at addressing long-term financial deficits in the pension system, faces uncertainty as political tensions and union opposition grow.