Intense negotiations took place at Matignon as opposition leaders discussed pension reform with key ministers. François Bayrou is expected to address the National Assembly on January 14, possibly proposing a suspension of the contentious reform. While the Socialist Party demands a halt to the legal retirement age increase, government coalition members resist this move. Challenges remain for Bayrou as he seeks to appease the left without alienating his majority, with skepticism growing over potential agreements.
Intense Negotiations at Matignon
After a week filled with rigorous discussions in Bercy, key political players from the opposition met with ministers Eric Lombard (Economy), Amélie de Montchalin (Public Accounts), and Catherine Vautrin (Health and Labor) on Saturday at Matignon. The purpose was to present the culmination of their discussions to the Prime Minister. From these talks, François Bayrou is expected to craft his general policy speech, set for Tuesday, January 14, at the National Assembly. While details of the discussions remain under wraps, it appears he may be preparing to extend an olive branch towards the left, including socialists, ecologists, and communists, in an effort to secure a non-censorship agreement.
Pension Reform at the Heart of Discussions
The focal point of this potential agreement is pension reform. In a Sunday interview on BFMTV, Olivier Faure, the First Secretary of the PS, expressed his anticipation that Bayrou would commit to a ‘suspension’ of the contentious legislation, asserting that ‘there is a possible path’ despite the current challenging circumstances. Just a day earlier, Arthur Delaporte, the spokesperson for the PS, clarified their main demand: to halt the implementation of the pension reform. This would mean maintaining the legal retirement age at its current level of 62 and a half years, rather than allowing it to gradually rise to 64, without any predetermined time limit, as he informed AFP. Faure believes the executive is keen to arrive at a consensus.
The President of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, supported this direction on Sunday during an appearance on France Inter, indicating she is not ‘opposed in principle’ to pausing the reform if it allows for a ‘short cycle of discussions.’ Moreover, a source close to the executive downplayed Bayrou’s commitment to the reform, which was adopted under the 49.3 procedure in 2023. The source suggested that Bayrou has never been a strong proponent of the law and would have preferred revisiting the point-based reform instead.
While the government coalition resists any notion of suspension, this concession could be a tall order for the presidential camp since Emmanuel Macron has consistently refused to roll back this flagship reform. On Friday, the Together for the Republic group expressed opposition to a complete suspension at this time. Yet, it raises the question: is François Bayrou genuinely considering this option? Following a videoconference meeting on Saturday that included Eric Lombard, Amélie de Montchalin, and deputies from the EPR group, some parliamentarians noted that the Economy Minister did not mention suspension. Another suggested that a suspension might be plausible in 2026, implying it would not occur in 2025.
The challenge for François Bayrou lies in balancing appeasement of the left while not alienating other factions within his majority. In an interview with Le Parisien, Gérard Larcher, the President of the Senate and a vital ally for Bayrou, firmly opposed any such initiative. He declared, ‘The message is clear: neither suspension nor repeal!’ while cautioning that ‘participation in the government does not equate to renunciation.’
Aligned with the PS within the New Popular Front, La France Insoumise has urged caution towards the Prime Minister’s intentions. Rebellious deputy and Finance Committee chair, Eric Coquerel, stated on LCI that the Socialist Party would be unlikely to receive the commitments they could negotiate in exchange for avoiding a vote of censure. He expressed skepticism about a freeze on the reform in 2026, asserting, ‘the PS will get nothing.’ He also confirmed that his party intends to file a motion of censure on Tuesday following statements from the mayor of Pau.
This round of negotiations may ultimately prove fruitless, as the likelihood of the motion being passed is low, given that the RN has chosen to allow Bayrou an opportunity. However, the forthcoming vote will be a crucial test of the Prime Minister’s capability to expand his support base.