Prime Minister Francois Bayrou of France dismissed the notion of lowering the retirement age back to 62 during negotiations on pension reform, limiting the scope of discussion for unions and employers. Bayrou, leading a fragile minority government, supported the 2023 reform, which includes increasing the retirement age to 64, to secure backing from opposition Socialists in parliament. He tasked union and business representatives to explore potential adjustments, emphasizing the importance of proposals that address funding gaps.

Bayrou clarified during an interview on France Inter radio that reverting to retirement at 62 was not an option, stating, "No." He highlighted the importance of addressing the fiscal challenges outlined in a report by France's Court of Accounts, even after the 2023 reform.

While acknowledging the significance of retirement age in pension reform, Bayrou emphasized that other avenues for system adjustments should be considered. Should consensus elude unions and employers, the government is prepared to move forward with the implementation of the 2023 reform.