Political shifts in Poland and France regarding elections and pension reform

In Poland, Przemysław Czarnek, a Law and Justice candidate for Prime Minister, has called for unity among right-wing parties following the recent mayoral elections in Kraków. Addressing supporters near the Constitutional Tribunal, Czarnek expressed sadness over the lack of a unified right-wing candidate in the city, suggesting that internal divisions contributed to the election outcome. He noted that Łukasz Gibała won the first round of the Kraków mayoral election with 36.38 percent of the vote, facing Monika Piątkowska, who received 29.91 percent. A second round is scheduled for October 11.

In France, a presidential candidate has proposed raising the retirement age to 65 to address national budgetary concerns. The proposal includes extending the required period of monthly contributions from 43 to 45 years and introducing elements of capitalization where employee contributions are invested. This stance contrasts with the platforms of other major candidates, such as Marine Le Pen, who advocates for lowering the age to 62, and Jean-Luc Melenchon, who seeks to return it to 60.