In search of 40 billion euros in savings in 2026, the Government does not rule out the possibility of eliminating tax reduction of 10% from which retirees benefit. But such an extent is far from unanimous in public opinion: 73% of the French oppose the abolition of this tax reduction to reduce the public deficit, against only 26% that are declared favorable, according to the “live opinion” weekly carried out by Elabe for BFMTV. The opposition is even stronger if we question the only retirees (88% unfavorable against 11% favorable).
The survey indicates, however, a generational difference: if it is the majority in all population categories, young people from 18 to 24 years (55% unfavorable against 44% favorable) and children from 25 to 34 years (59% against 41%) are less clearly opposed to the abolition of tax reduction, compared to 50-64 years (79% against 20%) and 65 12%).
In this context, only 9% of those questioned consider acceptable that retirees are used to reduce the public deficit, while 44% believe it is unacceptable to put them to use and that other means must be found. However, only less than half of the respondents (47%) consider that such a measure would be acceptable if it only referred to rich retirees. Once again, the only retirees are more reserved on the subject (4% acceptable, 38% acceptable only for rich retirees and 57% unacceptable).
Standard of living
Regarding the standard of living standards, 54% of French think that retirees have a lower standard of living than assets, while 28% think they have an equivalent standard of living. Only 18% judge that they have a higher standard of living than assets. This observation is even more pronounced if we question the only retirees: 65% judge that they have a lower standard of living, 26% of them have an equivalent standard of living and only 9% that have a higher standard of living.
In addition, today’s active ingredients expect a lower standard of living than current retirees, when they reach the retirement age. According to the survey, 79% of the assets consider that their generation will have a less good standard of living than current retirees, 14% an equivalent standard of living and only 6% a better standard of living.
*Internet survey from April 22 to 23, 2025, from a sample of 1,007 people representative of residents of continental France of 18 years or more. The representativeness of the sample was ensured according to the quota method applied to the following variables: sex, age and profession of the interviewee after stratification by region and category of agglomeration.
Source: BFM TV
