Germany has proposed major pension reforms to address the financial strain of its ageing population and ease the long-term burden on younger workers. The plan includes creating a Swedish-style pension fund with mandatory contributions from employers and employees, while gradually increasing the retirement age from 67 in the early 2030s to around 70 by the […]
France’s 2026 budget has finally been approved after two no-confidence motions failed in the National Assembly, bringing an end to months of political uncertainty. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, leading a weak minority government, secured the passage of the budget with targeted concessions to Socialist lawmakers, including delaying an unpopular pension reform. Lecornu
French lawmakers approved the 2026 social security budget in a tense vote, offering Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu a short-term political victory but exposing deep fractures within the government. The bill passed by just 13 votes, emphasizing the fragile state of a parliament where no party holds a majority. To secure Socialist support, Lecornu agreed to […]
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz narrowly secured parliamentary approval for a contentious pensions bill, passing it with 318 votes in the 630-seat Bundestag, despite internal rebellion from members of his own conservative bloc. The bill, which adds €185 billion to pension spending over 15 years and maintains pension levels at 48% of average wages until 2031, […]
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz secured an absolute majority in parliament on Friday for his controversial pensions bill, overcoming resistance from younger members of his own conservative bloc. The draft, which guarantees current pension levels until 2031, passed with 319 votes, indicating it likely succeeded without the support of opposition parties. The vote came after




