Patrick Martin, head of Medef, emphasized that France's pension reform should not be altered for political reasons, highlighting the urgency of maintaining its effectiveness amid a political deadlock over budget commitments. The pension reform, which raised the retirement age to 64, may be used as a bargaining chip by the government. Prime Minister François Bayrou is set to outline a new budget plan, aiming for a deficit target of 5% to 5.5% for 2025, while Bank of France Governor François Villeroy de Galhau stressed the importance of reducing the deficit to restore investor confidence.