February 2022

French Prime Minister Castex: pensions to be adjusted to factor in inflation

French Prime Minister Jean Castex told France 2 TV on Friday that pensions would be adjusted to factor in inflation. French inflation fell less than expected in January as it eased back from a 13-year high on lower prices for manufactured goods due to winter sales. The INSEE statistics agency said consumer prices rose 0.1% in January, giving a 12-month inflation rate of 3.3%, down from 3.4% in December.   Read more @Financial Post 238 views

The Silver Economy Gets a Covid Reality Check

French care-home operator Orpea was once a bet on better retirement. In an aging society, demand for long-term care would only rise — and so would demand for long-term returns, hence why Canada’s top pension fund bought a 15% stake in 2013. It was going to be the virtuous circle of the “silver economy” in action — retirement as an asset class. The virtuous circle now looks like a vicious one. After years of growth, some 3.4 billion euros ($3.9 billion) has been wiped...

November 2021

Macron: No pension reform in France before elections

In his address to the nation, Emmanuel Macron announced that there would be no pension reform before the end of his current presidential term, effectively abandoning one of his flagship policies, for now at least. Pension reform has long been an objective of Macron’s presidency. The aim was to merge France’s dozens of separate pension systems into one simplified system. Read also Build a Solid Risk Management Road Map Attempts to push the reform through have been met with significant resistance, with...

July 2021

France. Macron confirms he will pursue Pension Reform

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a series of economic measures, looking beyond the pandemic, although the much-anticipated pensions reform will be delayed until Covid is "under control". Obligatory vaccines and the extension of the health pass made the headlines following Macron’s live TV address on Monday evening, but the President also sketched out his vision for France’s post-Covid economy. Some of the measures he announced represent a return to the priorities he set at the beginning of his tenure, while...

Corporate France Urges Macron to Delay Contentious Pension Reform

France desperately needs pension reform, just not right away. That’s the message for President Emmanuel Macron from a chorus of top business leaders, days before he’s set to announce whether he’ll attempt change before the 2022 election. Read also Germany finally launches basic pension scheme “There’s already a great deal of worry and uncertainty. It would be a gamble to add more,” Stephane Richard, chief executive officer of telecom giant Orange SA told Bloomberg News on the sidelines of a conference in...

June 2021

France. Macron Weighs Pension Reform Before Bastille Day

French President Emmanuel Macron could revive a controversial pension reform as he prepares to unveil his priorities for the rest of his mandate and ahead of 2022 elections. Macron is set to speak to the French some time during the first half of next month, probably before July 14 when French leaders usually address the nation to mark Bastille Day. That is when he is considering tackling a topic that is highly contentious for voters, according to a person familiar...

France Says Controversial Pension Reform Is Key to Woo Investors

President Emmanuel Macron’s government isn’t abandoning its controversial plan to reform the French pension system, hammering home the argument that it’s key to attracting foreign investors. “We’ll keep working on the pension reform,” France’s Delegate Minister for Foreign Trade Franck Riester told Bloomberg News. “It shows we are committed to keep improving the business environment in France.” Read also French Senate passes social security draft budget, revives pensions polemic Macron came to power in 2017 with a pledge to boost growth and...

November 2020

French Senate passes social security draft budget, revives pensions polemic

Before the modifications in the Senate, the bill passed the National Assembly with 190 votes in favour, 106 votes against and 50 abstentions. As France deals with the ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic, senators voted to increase health provisions overall. Retirement age, again The Senate is dominated by a right-wing opposition and has re-introduced a proposal to extend the retirement age in order to balance the pension system. It recommends both pushing back the legal retirement age to 63...

July 2020

France delays retirement reform that caused mass strikes

France''s government is delaying a divisive overhaul of the country''s retirement system until at least the end of the year because of the economic crisis unleashed by the pandemic. Prime Minister Jean Castex announced after meeting with unions Friday that the pension reform “will be maintained.” But he added that the government will extend negotiations on details of the plan over the coming months, instead of pushing to finalise it this summer. The plan would end some specific pension...

March 2020

France. Macron Suspended Pension Reform and Delayed Second Round of Elections

France will be quarantined by noon on Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement to the nation broadcast by the Elysee Palace. All residents are ordered to stay home and will only be able to leave their homes for substantial reasons. People's movement will be very restricted, Macron said. "We are at war," the French president repeatedly said. Macron announced a number of measures that put France in a martial law to combat the virus. Here are...