French politician Eric Ciotti has called on his Rassemblement National allies to shift their stance on pension reform ahead of the upcoming presidential election.
In an interview published in the Journal du dimanche, Ciotti stated that he will loyally and strongly support Marine Le Pen in her bid for the presidency, while stressing that pension policy remains a key area of divergence between their parties.
Ciotti, who leads the Union des droites pour la République, explained that two years after forming an alliance with the Rassemblement National, he continues to see far more points of agreement than disagreement, but highlighted retirement policy as a remaining point of contention.
Disagreement over retirement age and investment
Maintaining the stance he held as leader of Les Républicains until 2024, Ciotti argued that citizens must work longer to sustain the pension system. He previously backed raising the legal retirement age to 64 and is pushing to add a capital investment tier to the existing pay-as-you-go system.
Before the summer, Le Pen advocated returning the legal retirement age to 62, or 60 for individuals who entered the workforce early. Her platform offered only limited scope for voluntary capital investment. Although Rassemblement National president Jordan Bardella previously suggested positions closer to Ciotti, Le Pen remains the party's presidential candidate for a fourth time.
Ongoing talks ahead of the presidential campaign
Ciotti said he has raised the pension issue with his allies on several occasions. He noted that the subject is currently under discussion within the Rassemblement National and expressed hope that the party will evolve away from its previous stances as the election approaches.
According to Ciotti, the Rassemblement National candidate must construct a political project centered on unity and radical reform to match the gravity of France's national situation, while confirming his own firm commitment to helping Le Pen win the presidency.
Political alliances and French pension policy
The Union des droites pour la République was formed by Ciotti after a high-profile split from Les Républicains, the traditional French centre-right party, to build a formal electoral partnership with the far-right Rassemblement National.
France currently relies on a state-managed pay-as-you-go pension system, where active workers directly finance current retirees. Proposals to raise the retirement age or incorporate private investment funds remain among the most contentious issues in French politics.
