French Far-Right National Rally Leader "Will Reject Macron's Pension Reform Plan"

Marine Le Pen, Leader of the National Rally of France
[Photo by AFP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] Marine Le Pen, leader of the French far-right National Rally (RN), announced that she will reject the government's 2023 budget plan, which includes pension reform.

According to major foreign media on the 18th (local time), Le Pen stated, "Emmanuel Macron's government's pension reform plan is unfair and will divide the country," adding, "RN will reject the pension reform plan."

President Macron aims to implement the pension reform starting next summer. The core of Macron's pension reform is to raise the legal retirement age to 65, thereby delaying the timing of pension receipt. Despite pension reform being cited as a factor lowering his approval ratings during the presidential election in May, President Macron did not waver in his commitment to the reform.

Le Pen advanced to the runoff election at that time but was defeated by President Macron. Following the presidential election, RN significantly increased its seats in the June general election from just 8 to 89, becoming the second-largest party in the National Assembly.

On the 11th, in the Swedish general election, the far-right Sweden Democrats rose to become the second-largest party in the parliament, leading the right-wing coalition to victory. In Italy, where the general election will be held on the 25th, Giorgia Meloni, leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy, is expected to become Italy's first female prime minister. These developments indicate a strengthening of far-right parties' positions across Europe recently.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.