Yaël Braun-Pivet calls for a "grand pact with the French" after the COR report on pension reform

Paris – 09.06.2026 : The Pension Guidance Council (COR) recommended in its latest report raising the average retirement age in France to 67.6 years by 2070. This recommendation is based on the forecast of a structural deficit in the pension system that could reach 2.4% of gross domestic product (GDP) by that date – an increase from 1.4% the previous year. The main reasons are due to demographic change: birth rates are falling, the population is aging.

Yaël Braun-Pivet, president of the National Assembly, reacted to the report by calling for a “grand pact with the French.” She is calling for a broad social dialogue in order to co-develop the planned reforms with the population. According to her, such a dialogue is essential to create acceptance of the profound transformations of the pension system.

The proposal foresees gradually increasing the retirement age, currently around 62 years, to 64.4 years by 2030, 65.8 years by 2045, and finally 67.6 years in 2070. These steps are intended to ensure the long-term financial stability of the system.

The plan is provoking intense debate: unions and various political actors express concerns about the impacts on the quality of life of older workers as well as on the labor market as a whole. They are demanding alternative measures to make the pension system sustainable without increasing the burden on employees.

Braun-Pivet insists that the reform must be inclusive and also take social aspects into account. The pension reform is part of a broader social and economic strategy putting solidarity and justice at the heart of the project. An isolated vision would not reflect the complexity of societal issues.

This debate takes place in a broader context of discussion about the future of the French welfare state in the face of an aging society. Policymakers and experts are looking for innovative ways to preserve social gains while ensuring financial sustainability.

The coming weeks will show how the government and social groups will react to the COR’s proposals and what concrete measures will ultimately be implemented. Braun-Pivet’s call for a “grand pact” could constitute an important step to obtain broad societal support for the necessary adaptations and ensure social peace.

Overall, the current situation highlights the complexity and challenges related to the issue of pensions in France. Only a balanced and inclusive approach, taking into account both economic and social dimensions, will make it possible to develop sustainable solutions.