France: Debt concerns shift public opinion on pension sanctity

Public opinion in France is shifting regarding the sanctity of retirement pensions as the national debt becomes a central political issue. According to a report by the Conseil d’orientation des retraites, the pay-as-you-go pension system faces an estimated deficit of 5 billion euros.

A recent Ifop survey revealed that 50% of respondents believe it will be impossible to reduce the national debt without adjusting pension benefits. Notably, more than half of the retirees surveyed shared this view, indicating a breakdown in the long-held belief that pensions are untouchable.

With public debt reaching approximately 3,303 billion euros at the end of the fourth quarter of 2024, the debate over who should bear the burden of debt reduction is expected to intensify leading up to the 2027 presidential election.