In 2023, Macron passed a controversial pensions reform that raised the legal retirement age from 62 to 64 and was aimed at making France’s pensions system economically sustainable.
The reform has been strongly opposed by both left-wing and right-wing opposition groups.
In a bid to convince left-wing lawmakers not to bring down his government, Bayrou earlier this year promised to review the controversial reform, and didn’t rule out changing the retirement age.
“It is my conviction that we can seek a new reform path, without totems or taboos, even on the age of retirement,” Bayrou said back in January.
His opponents were quick to attack him on Sunday for what they see as a volte-face.
“Bayrou has just lied and betrayed his commitment on pensions. Exactly as we predicted,” MP Mathilde Panot, who chairs the parliamentary group of the radical-left France Unbowed party, wrote on X.
In February, Bayrou launched a so-called “conclave” — a weekly meeting during which representatives of trade unions and business groups discuss with the government how to improve the pensions system.
