Le Pen’s Fiscal Tightrope: Deficit Discipline Without Dropping Pension Promises

Marine Le Pen is trying to broaden her appeal by pledging a 3% GDP deficit limit and about €125 billion in spending cuts while keeping her core promise to roll back part of Macron’s pension reform and set retirement at 62. That stance aims to win centrists but risks alienating fiscal conservatives and raising questions about how the numbers add up, especially with France’s high debt and rising borrowing costs. Internal tensions—like the departure of key adviser Durvye—and Bardella’s push toward a more centrist economic approach underscore a campaign still ironing out its detailed plan ahead of a full fall-platform release.