Gérard Larcher Opposes Suspension or Repeal of the Pension Reform

The President of the Senate, Gérard Larcher, firmly rejected any suspension or repeal of the pension reform in an interview with Le Parisien on Saturday, January 11. His statements come ahead of Prime Minister François Bayrou’s policy address scheduled for Tuesday, where a gesture of openness towards the left on the reform could be made.

Significant Financial Cost
Gérard Larcher justified his stance by citing estimates from the French pension system: “If we were to repeal the pension reform, the cost would amount to €3.4 billion in 2025 and nearly €16 billion by 2032.” Meanwhile, Patrick Kanner, president of the Socialist group in the Senate, estimated that freezing the reform for six months would cost between €2 and €3 billion, potentially taken from the pension reserve fund.

Dialogue Is Welcome, but the Right Has Its Limits
“The message is clear: no suspension or repeal! On Tuesday, the Prime Minister will make his decision. In the Senate, I will not lead any procedure for suspension or repeal,” warned Gérard Larcher. While he expressed openness to dialogue with the left, he emphasized that certain priorities remain non-negotiable for the right, particularly regarding sovereign matters and budgetary issues.

Larcher expects François Bayrou’s policy statement to outline “a clear direction, a plan, and commitments.” He also urged concrete action to reduce the deficit and public spending, citing state agencies like ADEME (the Environment and Energy Management Agency), which has “a budget of over €4 billion,” as areas where rationalization is necessary.

No New Taxes
On the topic of taxation, Gérard Larcher stated: “We demand that no additional taxes be introduced beyond what has already been debated in the Senate, specifically the surtax on large corporations and the taxation of high incomes.”

Finally, regarding proportional representation, Larcher expressed reluctance to adopt it broadly but suggested opening a debate on proportional representation in specific constituencies, provided the link between MPs and their territories is preserved. He also proposed reinstating the possibility for parliamentarians to hold a local executive position, such as mayor.