French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has told parliament he backs suspending controversial 2023 pension reforms, in the face of crucial votes of no-confidence later this week.
The changes, which raised the retirement age from 62 to 64, were seen as signature reforms in Emmanuel Macron's presidency.
This autumn I will propose to parliament that we suspend the 2023 pension reform until the [2027] presidential election, Lecornu said to applause from left-wing parties.
Lecornu was reappointed prime minister last week only four days after he resigned, and needs the support of Socialist MPs in parliament if his government is to survive.
Opposition parties on the far right and far left have called confidence votes, known as censure votes on Lecornu's government, for Thursday morning and are demanding parliamentary elections.
The Socialists said they would be prepared to support the new government, but only if it promises a complete suspension of Macron's pension changes.
If he does not explicitly say the words 'immediate and complete suspension of the pension reform', it will be censure, Socialist MP Laurent Baumel said earlier on French TV.
The reforms were finally pushed through parliament in March 2023, less than a year after Macron was voted in for a second presidential term.
Last week, Lecornu stated that suspending the pension reform would cost €400m (£350m) in 2026 and a further €1.8bn (£1.57bn) in 2027, necessitating compensatory savings.
Lecornu represents a crucial attempt by Macron to stabilize his fragmented government, as debates over budget management and potential political shifts loom.
Philippe Aghion, a Nobel laureate in economics, also backed the idea of suspending the pension reform, indicating a broader concern over government stability amid public dissatisfaction.
To remain viable, Lecornu must navigate complex parliamentary dynamics, ensuring he secures enough support to implement fiscal measures without exacerbating the national deficit.
