The decision to freeze superannuation and minimum social benefits was rejected by 308 votes against and only 99 votes in favor, which is a reasonable decision as it is a savings measure included in the draft social security budget. This parliamentary resolution reinforced the position that these basic aids will remain unchanged while alternative measures for the sustainability of the system will be discussed. MPs also chose to postpone the implementation of controversial pension reforms, a decision that will affect the political agenda until at least 2028, according to a parliamentary report.
Media reported that in a vote held this Wednesday, 255 members of parliament expressed support for canceling the pension reform approved in 2023, which has caused a serious social and political crisis in France. The vote came from the Socialists, Greens and National Groups, and reflected a significant majority compared to the 146 MPs who voted against it. The group, which also includes La Francia Insmisa and the Communist Party, publicly denounced the measure as a limited solution, saying it is overdue but does not solve the fundamental problem. Parliamentarians from the Renacimiento Party chose to abstain, remaining outside the scope of the definition.
According to information provided by the National Assembly, the main political concession made by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecorne was to propose a postponement of reforms to avoid a possible collapse of the government. As announced by the same legislative source, the plan detailed by Lecorne contemplates any aspect of the reform taking effect before January 2028, after the presidential elections scheduled for 2027. In this way, pension reform will be suspended and its application will depend on the interrelationships of the forces that emerge after the election.
As reported by the National Assembly, the pension law voted on last year sparked numerous protests and strikes across the French territory, deepening political tensions and putting the administration in check. The debate over pension reform has been established as one of the central points of the national agenda for months, with large demonstrations and significant social polarization. In the face of pressure and criticism, positions on the future of the pension system remain divided, but recent parliamentary decisions signal a lull in the conflict.
The politics surrounding the vote marked a reconfiguration of parliamentary alliances. The parliament said some opposition parties, social democrats and environmentalists, supported the postponement, but more radical left-wing sectors questioned the measure as insufficient. The political parties behind the opposition point out that the postponement would delay the onset of structural problems and prolong uncertainty over the viability and sustainability of pensions.
According to data presented at the debate, the pension reform approved in 2023 aims to change retirement ages, increase contributions and adjust benefits, provoking a wide range of trade union and social sector reactions. The suspension voted on Wednesday means the current terms of withdrawal will continue unchanged under the current regulatory framework, at least through the next presidential term.
The vote also emphasized the important role Congress plays in setting budget priorities. The rejection of a freeze on retirement and other benefits will force the government to explore alternatives to balance Social Security’s public accounts without resorting to measures that directly affect current beneficiaries, according to the Congressional Record.
As for the future, the adopted decisions will continue an open debate on the sustainability of the French pension system. The postponed reforms will be analyzed in the next political cycle and will be subject to deliberations that will occur after 2027, after the parliamentary and presidential landscape is redefined based on the election results.
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