Following the results of the early legislative elections, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced on Sunday evening that the unemployment insurance reform would be temporarily suspended. This reform aimed to tighten access conditions to benefits and faced opposition from various parties, including the far right, the left-wing alliance, and unions. President Emmanuel Macron initially supported the reform but expressed willingness to consider different “modalities.”
In order to prevent a legal vacuum, an exceptional “joining decree” extending the current rules until July 31 was published on Monday morning. This decision came after a recent vote that placed the extreme right in a strong position for the upcoming election. This move was met with discontent from Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire, who expressed concern about changing positions for electoral advantage and stressed the importance of continuing reforms.
The proposed reform, set by the current majority, includes reducing the maximum duration of compensation and changing the prerequisites for eligibility. The presidential camp had been supportive of this reform as a means to promote full employment. Despite the temporary suspension, the government aims to resume discussions and move forward with necessary changes in the coming months.