European Governments Face Backlash Over Pension Reforms

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has announced that he will propose suspending the 2023 pension reform until the 2027 presidential election to save his government from a no-confidence vote. The reform, which raised the retirement age from 62 to 64, was a signature policy of President Emmanuel Macron's presidency. Lecornu's decision is seen as a move to appease the Socialist party, whose support he needs to survive. The opposition parties on the far right and far left have called for a confidence vote, but Lecornu is likely to survive with the support of the centrist bloc and the Socialists. The suspension of the pension reform is expected to cost €400m in 2026 and €1.8bn in 2027, which will need to be compensated by other savings.

Tens of thousands of people protested in Brussels as part of a national strike in Belgium against government reforms and spending cuts. The strike, led by the country's three big unions, severely disrupted public transport, flights, and shipping. Protesters objected to measures such as increasing the pension age and limiting unemployment benefits. The strike was largely peaceful but had some incidents of vandalism and clashes with police.

Tens of thousands of people protested in Brussels, Belgium against the government's proposed austerity plans, leading to clashes with police, cancelled flights, and disrupted public transport. The protests, organized by the country's three largest unions, were against pension reform, cuts to unemployment benefits, and hospital funding. Several dozen demonstrators were arrested, and police used tear gas to disperse the crowds. The strike affected Brussels International Airport and Brussels South Charleroi Airport, with most flights cancelled. The protests were led by unions and backed by activist groups such as Greenpeace and Oxfam.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has shelved President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform, a key economic policy, until after the 2027 presidential election. The decision comes after Lecornu's reappointment as Prime Minister and his need to secure the support of left-wing MPs to pass a slimmed-down 2026 budget. The pension reform, which aimed to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, was met with widespread protests in 2023. The delay is expected to cost the Treasury €400m in 2026 and €1.8bn the following year. Lecornu's move is seen as a blow to Macron, who has struggled to achieve domestic policy successes during his eight years in office.