Key Highlights from Presidential Candidates' Debate at Medef

London, United Kingdom Aug 28, 2026 ALN: The storm that loomed over Roland-Garros on Thursday did not deter the three-hour debate among seven presidential candidates. Interrogated by five business leaders during the Medef's back-to-school event, Gabriel Attal, Raphaël Glucksmann, Marine Le Pen, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Edouard Philippe, Bruno Retailleau, and Marine Tondelier took turns presenting their arguments, occasionally exchanging sharp remarks.

What new ideas did they present? What are their plans for the coming weeks? Who garnered the most applause? Here’s a recap of the most significant moments from this competitive encounter.

1. Lowering the Retirement Age: Marine Le Pen's 'Choice of Society'

Marine Le Pen made it clear that she would not bow to business leaders, who are generally opposed to her retirement reform proposal. Despite previous uncertainties regarding her stance, the four-time presidential candidate reiterated her commitment to returning the legal retirement age to between 60 and 62 years, depending on when individuals enter the job market. She stated she would "assume" the estimated cost of this reform — 9 billion euros annually — which she labeled a "choice of society."

Coincidentally, as Le Pen spoke, Le Figaro reported that François Durvye, a former collaborator of Pierre-Edouard Stérin and now an economic advisor to Jordan Bardella, decided not to participate in Le Pen's campaign due to economic disagreements with her.

While it was known that her party was preparing a counter-budget for 2027, the scale of its economic measures was revealed: "125 billion euros." This trajectory for "restoring public finances" will be presented before the budget debates in early October, according to Le Pen. She mentioned various areas for potential cuts, including "the European Union, immigration, and many obscure institutes." Additionally, she expressed support for enshrining a "golden rule" in the Constitution.

2. Jean-Luc Mélenchon Stands Firm on Debt Cancellation

For his first appearance at Medef, the leader of La France Insoumise chose to challenge business leaders directly, referring to his competitors as an "assembly of magicians" who "want to pay nothing" and dismiss his proposal to cancel 18% of the French debt held by the European Central Bank. He insisted, "This is a debt to ourselves. The Americans do it; they just repurchased their own debt, and we would be the only ones in the universe to renounce this possibility?"

He warned the audience, "If you do not raise salaries, France will fall into recession," while advocating for an increase in the minimum wage. Mélenchon rejected the social VAT proposed by Patrick Martin and the idea of capitalized pensions, suggesting it would require "two times more contributions." He provocatively proposed eliminating all public aid to businesses to restore public accounts.

3. Gabriel Attal Challenges Le Pen

Gabriel Attal confronted Marine Le Pen with his candidate's timeline — aiming to reduce the public deficit to below 3% of GDP by 2032 and achieve balance by 2037. He boasted that for the first time in fifteen years, the state spent less in 2024 than the previous year, attributing the deficit increase that year to social spending. He targeted Le Pen, stating, "You voted against conditions for the RSA, against unemployment insurance reform, against retirement reform... In co-ownership meetings, you are the one who votes against all provisions, all savings, yet complains when the elevator is broken."

Attal also aimed a jab at Le Pen's retirement reform, emphasizing his support for a portion of capitalized pensions.

4. Bruno Retailleau Critiques the 'Bureaucratic State'

Having been the most applauded politician at last year's Medef, Bruno Retailleau sought to replicate his success by identifying "the bureaucratic state" as the "primary problem for businesses." He proposed to eliminate "a hundred of the most ridiculous regulations" through orders, citing the goal of zero net artificialization. He also aimed to repeal the precautionary principle established in the Constitution.

Retailleau criticized the "failure" of Emmanuel Macron's dual five-year term, expressing his frustration with the "both-and" approach.

5. Edouard Philippe Revives His Deal with Business Leaders

Nearly a year after introducing his "fiscal trade-off" proposal, Edouard Philippe attempted to win over entrepreneurs by re-explaining his measure. This involves eliminating 50 billion euros in production taxes in exchange for a corresponding reduction in business aid. He argued that production taxes are based on a "very poor basis," either on payroll or revenue.

Additionally, Philippe promised to end the corporate tax surcharge (nearly 8 billion euros annually), which the government plans to partially extend in the upcoming budget.

6. Raphaël Glucksmann Advocates for Inheritance Taxation

The candidate from Place publique reiterated one of his key proposals for "a society of workers, not of rentiers or heirs": a reduction in the CSG compensated by taxing "mega-inheritances," expected to generate 15 billion euros without affecting "99% of inheritances." He argued that "work is no longer adequately rewarded, posing a threat to democracy," warning that "we are recreating an aristocracy of inheritance."