Finance Minister Warns Pension Reform Changes Would Be Costly for France

Acting French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said on Wednesday that any plan to alter France’s pension reforms—whose unpopularity has fueled the country’s political crisis—would be extremely costly for the economy.

Speaking to France Inter radio, Lescure said, “Any changes to the pension reforms would cost millions in 2026 and billions in 2027.”

Former Prime Minister and current acting Education Minister Élisabeth Borne told Le Parisien on Tuesday that she is prepared to delay the pension reforms, which she herself pushed through parliament in 2023.

Several left-wing leaders in France have called for the reforms to be canceled, although the Socialist Party has suggested it would be open to postponing them.

When asked whether the French Finance Ministry is considering changes to the pension system, Lescure said, “We are evaluating various scenarios.”

Under the 2023 pension reforms, France’s retirement age was gradually raised from 62 to 64. The government has argued that the changes are crucial for reducing national debt and improving the overall economy, though many labor unions continue to oppose them.