Overview

• In his policy speech, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said he will ask Parliament this autumn to suspend the 2023 pension reform until the 2027 presidential election, halting further age hikes through January 2028 and freezing the required contribution period at 170 quarters.
• Lecornu estimated the suspension would cost about €400 million in 2026 and €1.8 billion in 2027 and benefit roughly 3.5 million people, insisting the outlay must be offset by savings to avoid widening the deficit.
• He vowed not to use article 49.3 and said Parliament will have the final say on the budget, framing his approach as a shift to full legislative votes after years of forced passages on financial bills.
• The Council of Ministers approved draft 2026 budgets targeting a deficit near 4.7% of GDP and below 5% after parliamentary changes, including a tax on family holdings, a partial extension of exceptional levies on large company profits, a one-off contribution from very large fortunes, and proposals that include freezing pensions and some social benefits next year.
• Two censure motions from LFI and the RN/UDR coalition are set for debate mid‑week, the Socialists weigh their stance after calling the pension pause a victory, LR’s leader urged his group not to vote censure, and Macron warned he would dissolve the Assembly if the government falls.