Politics · France · 1 hr ago
French presidential candidates propose sharply different pension reforms
France’s pension system is a major issue in the next presidential election.
It currently relies on workers’ contributions to pay pensions, while the number of retirees is rising compared with the number of workers.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon proposes retirement at 60 after 40 years of contributions.
Marine Le Pen and Raphaël Glucksmann want to repeal the latest reform and return to a retirement age of 62, with different rules for contribution years and demanding jobs.
On the right and in the political centre, Édouard Philippe proposes raising the legal age to 65 and requiring 45 years of contributions, while Bruno Retailleau proposes age 63 for most workers and 65 for a full pension without a reduction.
Gabriel Attal wants to add funded savings, including a state-funded account for each child at birth.
Economists warn that the change could require people to pay both for their own future pensions and for current retirees’ pensions during the transition.
French presidential candidates have proposed sharply different changes to the country’s pension system.
Some candidates want to reverse the latest reform and lower the retirement age, while others propose raising it or requiring longer contribution periods.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon proposes retirement at 60 after 40 years of contributions.
Édouard Philippe proposes raising the legal retirement age to 65 and requiring 45 years of contributions.
Gabriel Attal proposes opening a state-funded capitalisation account for every child born in France.
Economists warn that moving to a capitalisation system could mean paying both for future retirement savings and current pensions.
- Who
- French presidential candidates, including Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Marine Le Pen, Raphaël Glucksmann, Édouard Philippe, Bruno Retailleau and Gabriel Attal.
- What
- They have proposed different pension reforms, including changing the retirement age and contribution period and introducing capitalisation.
- When
- The proposals are discussed ahead of the next presidential election; the article was published on 12 October 2026.
- Where
- France.
- Why
- The pension system is under pressure as the number of retirees rises relative to the number of workers.
Candidates seeking earlier retirement
Candidates seeking later retirement or capitalisation
Retirement age
Candidates seeking earlier retirement
Mélenchon proposes retirement at 60 after 40 years of contributions; Le Pen wants to return to age 62 and 40 to 42 years of contributions.
Candidates seeking later retirement or capitalisation
Philippe proposes a legal retirement age of 65 and 45 years of contributions; Retailleau says most workers should not retire before 63.
Latest reform
Candidates seeking earlier retirement
Le Pen and Glucksmann want to repeal the latest pension reform.
Candidates seeking later retirement or capitalisation
Philippe and Retailleau propose later retirement; the article does not state whether they support retaining the latest reform.
The article says a worker near the end of their career can retire at 62 years and 9 months with a full pension after 42 and a half years of contributions.
Candidates are putting forward competing proposals for pension reform.
Economists warn that some transition scenarios could require people to pay for future retirement savings as well as current pensions.
- Mélenchon’s proposal
- Retirement at 60 after 40 years of contributions
- Philippe’s proposal
- Legal retirement age of 65 and 45 years of contributions
- Retailleau’s proposal
- Most employees would not retire before 63; a full pension without a reduction at 65
- Attal’s proposal
- €1,000 state contribution to a capitalisation account for each baby born in France
- Current full-pension conditions
- 62 years and 9 months of age and 42 and a half years of contributions
What people are saying
Une fois qu'on a regardé combien il faut, on sait combien il faut prendre et on sait à qui
Certains, ceux qui ont des carrières linéaires, qui sont dans des situations beaucoup plus favorables, partiront plus tard
Moi, je ne veux pas tromper les Français, si on ne travaille pas un peu plus, tout va s'effondrer
Je propose qu'à chaque naissance en France, un compte de capitalisation soit ouvert pour chaque bébé avec 1 000 euros versés par l'État sur le compte et que jusqu'aux 18 ans de l'enfant, les parents et les grands-parents puissent l'abonder en défiscalisant
Sources
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