It is a real acrobatics of political balance in which the prime minister was served Sebastian on Tuesday (14.10.2025) before the National Assembly at France: He tried to satisfy the Socialists without losing the right, but also without betraying the legacy of Macronism, writes the French -speaking Swiss newspaper Le Temps.
In his “Déclaration Politique Générale” in front of the French National Assembly, short, dense and designed as a reason for the crisis, Sebastian Lekorni attempted to formulate a clear message: “Or we change, or they will change us».
With the back to the wall, the head of government retreated to one of the basic requirements of moderate left: the immediate and complete suspension of 2023 pension reform. No increase in age, no extension of years of insurance – all freezes by January 2028. A concession greeting by the Socialists and even by Communist Party leader Fabine Roussel, who spoke of “a first victory”.
However, the movement is dangerous. Suspension will cost 400 million euros as early as 2026 and nearly 1.8 billion in 2027. “I will not take responsibility for a result that will undermine our credibility,” Lekorni said, promising cuts to offset the cost of the measure.
Turn to social policy, without rupture with fiscal discipline
The French prime minister seeks to redefine the government’s line around a “social right” capable of calming tensions without abandoning fiscal rigor. He even confirmed that the state budget of 2026 It must be approved before the end of the year and “through the parliamentary process, not by presidential decision”.
In the tax field, Lekorni did not adopt the Left’s proposal to impose an extraordinary tax on great wealth, but acknowledged that the French tax system “exhibits anomalies” in taxing the richest citizens. However, he proposed an “extraordinary contribution to big estates”, without even giving details, as well as a new tax to investment companies and the extension of “extraordinary contributions” to big business profits and high incomes.
In terms of expenditure, the budget plan provides for freezing pensions and social benefits, increases in electricity on electronic cigarette liquids and polluting vehicles, as well as abolition of more than 3,000 civil servants.
A fragile promise of democratic dialogue
“The law will be here, not in Berry”Lekorni said before the Members, promising that parliament would have “the last reason” and that There will be no longer impositions through Article 49.3 of the Constitution. He wants, as he said, to represent a new political method: ‘Division of power’ and ‘revitalization of parliamentary dialogue’.
But, as Le Temps points out, this balance remains fragile. Among a national alarm determined to vote against “all the governments of Macron”, a divided left and a shaken majority, Lecorne plays his political survival. Emmanuel Macron, moreover, warned: “These censure proposals are proposals for dissolution.”
Sebastian Lekorni may have earned some time but not yet trust. His bet – to combine fiscal discipline with social relief – remains, for many, one ‘Dangerous Mission’.