Edouard Philippe Proposes Raising French Retirement Age to 65

Presidential candidate Edouard Philippe proposed a pension reform plan on Tuesday designed to address France's aging population and fiscal deficit. The center-right former prime minister intends to gradually raise the legal retirement age from 64 to 65 over the next decade and increase the required contribution period to 45 years.

To support the transition, Philippe proposed making private pension savings compulsory, with the state contributing to plans for young workers. The plan includes exceptions for those who entered the workforce early or hold physically demanding jobs, which would allow one in three workers to retire between the ages of 60 and 64.

Philippe argued that these measures are necessary to avoid a financial crisis, noting that other European nations have already implemented similar reforms. Despite the proposal, Philippe currently trails candidates Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Marine Le Pen in the polls for the April-May 2027 presidential election.