Pension Reform: Macron Says Successor Must 'Take Up the Work'

French President Emmanuel Macron has declared that pension reform is an essential task that his successor must undertake. Macron recognized that his own attempts to overhaul the pension system were not fully realized, citing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and political compromises. He described the pension reform as the "most effective and pertinent" measure for curbing public spending in a nation facing an aging population. "We must take up the work on pensions. It is indispensable in a country that is aging," Macron stated during an interview on France 2. He suggested that failing to address this issue would be "hypocritical," given that pensions represent the largest component of public expenditure. Macron's administration faced significant challenges in implementing its pension agenda. An initial plan for a universal system was halted by the pandemic, and a subsequent proposal to raise the legal retirement age from 62 to 64 was suspended following a failed dissolution and the need for budget compromises. "I was not followed entirely on the question of pensions," he admitted, noting that the latest reform "was not accepted or supported" and that the parliamentary majority elected in 2024 "backed away from it." Despite personal regret, Macron acknowledged this as part of democratic life, emphasizing that France's generous social model requires continuous reform to maintain its long-term strength. He expressed confidence in the French people to choose wisely in the upcoming presidential election, which will determine who takes on this significant challenge.