Paris: The French National Assembly approved an article of the Social Security budget bill Wednesday that suspends the 2023 pension reform until January 1, 2028, by a wide majority. By a vote of 255 to 146, lawmakers agreed to halt the planned increase of the legal retirement age from 62 to 64 until the next presidential election. A total of 104 lawmakers abstained from the vote.

According to Anadolu Agency, the suspension received significant backing from the Socialists, most Green lawmakers, and the National Rally. In contrast, La France Insoumise, the Republicans, and most members of Horizons opposed the measure. Most Renaissance deputies chose to abstain from the vote.

In a related development, lawmakers voted down a proposed freeze on retirement pensions and minimum social benefits, rejecting the cost-saving measure by 308 to 99 votes, as reported by BFMTV broadcaster.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu had proposed the suspension on October 14, pledging that there would be no increase in the retirement age before January 2028. This move was a response to a key demand from the opposition left and was aimed at avoiding censure from the Socialist Party.

The pension reform, initially pushed through in 2023 under former Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and later defended by successive governments, sought to gradually raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. The proposal had triggered one of the longest strike waves in France in decades.