Eric Ciotti Calls for 15‑Year Phase‑In of Capitalised French Pensions

Eric Ciotti, mayor of Nice and head of the UDR party, urged a gradual introduction of a capitalised element into France’s pension system. He proposed that over a fifteen‑year period 9 % of workers’ gross salaries be redirected to private pension funds, creating a new “layer” alongside the existing pay‑as‑you‑go scheme. Ciotti argued that the current system is no longer financially sustainable and that merely adjusting the retirement age is insufficient.

The proposal follows Marine Le Pen’s recent endorsement of a voluntary capitalisation option for those who can afford it. Ciotti also suggested using surplus assets from the supplementary Agirc‑Arrco scheme to seed a transition fund that would support the rollout of the capitalised tier.

He framed the plan as a response to France’s demographic challenges, aiming to bolster retirees’ incomes while preserving the solidarity of the basic pension system.