On March 16, 2025, Prime Minister François Bayrou firmly rejected the possibility of lowering the legal retirement age back to 62 years during his appearance on France Inter. This decision has sparked widespread backlash from unions and political factions, raising questions about the viability of the current discussions on retirement reform.
During the Questions politiques broadcast, Bayrou stated, "I do not believe the parametric question... is the only track," clearly indicating his intention not to revert the retirement age, which is currently set at 64 years due to legislative changes initiated by the previous government. This explicit rejection has drawn strong criticism from various labor unions, particularly the CGT, whose representative Denis Gravouil called the remarks "absolutely scandalous," accusing Bayrou of betraying promises made during negotiations.
This statement contradicts the eleven meetings planned with unions over the upcoming months to review potential reforms to the retirement system. The urgency of these discussions is heightened by warnings from the Cour des Comptes, which forecast retirement system deficits exceeding €6.5 billion this year, expected to escalate to €15 billion by 2035.
Gravouil’s comments reflect broader discontent among unions, as the CGT representative expressed concerns about the government's sincerity, stating, "This is nature to reevaluate our participation" in the discussions following Bayrou's rejection. His sentiments resonate with officials from other unions, including Yvan Ricordeau of the CFDT, who labeled Bayrou's statements as "incomprehensible" and called for clarification at the next meeting scheduled for March 18.
Political reactions have been equally fierce. Fabien Roussel of the Communist Party (PCF) criticized Bayrou for linking the decision to the war's financial strains on the country, arguing, "The war is the opposite of social progress. And right now we must not yield on our fundamentals." This sentiment was echoed by opposition leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon from La France Insoumise (LFI), who derided the proposal and declared, "The conclave is finished. Bayrou says no to the repeal of the retirement at 64 years because of Trump and Putin. It’s mockery."
The fallout from Bayrou’s rejection of the 62-year age limit extends beyond unions, igniting tensions with opposition parties. Olivier Faure of the Socialist Party (PS) categorized Bayrou’s statements as "unacceptable," highlighting the contradictions between his rhetoric of openness to negotiation and his firm stance against revisiting the retirement age. The PS and LFI, traditionally aligned on labor issues, united to assert their criticism, posing significant challenges for the government.
Former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe chimed in, labeling the current discussions as "totally outdated" and questioning the efficacy of engaging social partners under high-stakes circumstances. Philippe's faction at the Horizons party hosts the delicate balancing act, advocating both for fiscal responsibility and for addressing workers’ rights. Philippe articulated, "The debate is completely out of touch," pushing for more relevant topics for social dialogue rather than retracing steps on already legislated reforms.
Further complicatings matters, Sébastien Chenu of the National Rally (RN) hinted at potential censure actions if Bayrou's government does not change its course. He described the circumstances around it as "another excuse to stall the changes our country desperately needs."
Despite the brewing tensions, Bayrou remained adamant about the necessity for reform within the retirement framework, stating the need for discussions on both public and private retirement systems to restore balance by 2030. He emphasized the importance of involving social partners and acknowledged challenged economic conditions but maintained his stance against reinstatement of the prior age threshold.
Eric Lombard, the Minister of Economy, attempted to mitigate the situation immediately following Bayrou’s statement, asserting live on BFMTV and replying, "It’s up to the social partners to decide," underscoring the importance of their input in deciding the outcome of the conclave process. Lombard’s lines were interpreted as slightly softening Bayrou's hard stance, aimed at preserving the integrity of discussions with unions.
Overall, the Prime Minister's decision to forgo reconsidering the retirement age has not only jeopardized the planned negotiations but has also heightened tensions between the government, unions, and various political factions. The direction taken by these conversations, initially intended as constructive, retaliated as oppositions grow across the board, leading many to speculate how the Bayrou government’s longevity at Matignon will hold up during this contentious period.