The French right-wing party National Rally (RN) is considering changes to its pension reform proposal, aiming to lower the retirement age to 62 years, while also exploring other ways to reduce pension expenses ahead of the presidential campaign of Marine Le Pen.
According to two party officials, Marine Le Pen stated during high-level meetings on July 16 and 17 that the National Rally will uphold its previous commitment to lower the legal retirement age to 62 years. This was reported by the French publication Libération. In contrast, French President Emmanuel Macron‘s pension reform raised the retirement age for most workers to 64 years.
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Two participants in these meetings indicated that Le Pen has directed the party to consider additional changes to the pension reform before officially presenting its pre-election program in the coming months. One option under consideration is to eliminate the rule allowing individuals to retire with a full pension at 67 years, even if they have not contributed long enough to qualify for full benefits.
According to one anonymous meeting participant, the National Rally is also examining a potentially controversial proposal that would encourage workers to contribute to private pension schemes alongside the state system. This idea has long been favored by fiscal conservatives.
For several weeks, various factions within the National Rally have debated the future of France’s pension system amid the country’s deteriorating financial situation. Party president Jordan Bardella and other business-oriented representatives have opposed the promise to lower the retirement age, seeking to bolster the party’s credibility on economic issues.
Jordan Bardella has long been viewed as a likely presidential candidate for the National Rally, while Marine Le Pen contested a ruling in a misappropriation case that could have barred her from running in the elections. However, a court decision on July 7 cleared the way for her participation in next year’s presidential campaign. The confirmation of Le Pen’s eligibility to run was seen as a victory for the traditional wing of the party, which supports lowering the retirement age.
“Some are behaving as if it is already decided,” said another participant from the pro-business faction of the National Rally. “This is not the same reform as in 2022, if there are changes,” he added, referring to Le Pen’s earlier promise to maintain the legal retirement age at 62 years during the previous presidential elections.
Source: Politico
