Outgoing finance minister Roland Lescure told France Inter on Wednesday that the suspension of pension reforms was one of the measures being assessed to pass a budget<\/a> but that the move would need to be financed by other means. <\/p>\n \u201cIn today\u2019s situation and given the urgency, there are ways of moving forward, but\u2009.\u2009.\u2009.\u2009changing the pension reform would cost hundreds of millions in 2026, and billions in 2027,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Lecornu said all parties in Tuesday\u2019s talks agreed that the 2026 budget should cut the deficit to below 5 per cent of GDP, saying it was essential for France\u2019s credibility.<\/p>\n The reforms to progressively raise the retirement age in France from 62 to 64 were passed in 2023, but a suspension would stop the gradual increases. The measures were bitterly opposed by opposition parties and unions and sparked major protests.<\/p>\n Borne, who introduced the reforms to parliament, told Le Parisien newspaper on Tuesday the law should not be considered a \u201ctotem\u201d in efforts to find a way out of the crisis.<\/p>\n Lecornu, who resigned on Monday after less than a month in post, has been tasked by Emmanuel Macron<\/a> with leading final discussions to explore whether compromise to pass a 2026 budget can be sought in the country\u2019s divided parliament.<\/p>\n Olivier Faure, head of the Socialist party, said that freezing the pension age reform would be an \u201cimportant gesture if it came to pass\u201d but that he \u201cwanted to know if this victory is real or not\u201d before celebrating it.<\/p>\n \u201cI need to check that this isn\u2019t simply a smokescreen,\u201d he said on FranceInfo on Wednesday. <\/p>\n Recommended<\/p>\n
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