France to Reform Parental Leave as Birth Rates Drop

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Facts

French Pres. Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that his government will overhaul the current parental leave system to revive the country's birth rate.¹
France registered 678K births in 2023 — the lowest figure since 1946. The nation's average birth rate is 1.68 children per woman, down from 1.79 in 2022.²
However, despite the decline in birth rates, France recorded a slight increase in population in 2023, while life expectancy in France has reached 80 for men and 85.7 for women.³
Promising a 'major plan to combat infertility,' Macron said the reformed, 'better paid' parental leave system 'will enable both parents to be with their child for six months if they so wish.'⁴
France’s current parental leave system allows parents to suspend work until their child is three. However, due to the relatively low remuneration offered — €429 per month — only 1% of men take up the offer.⁵

Narrative A, as provided by The Telegraph. France is taking immediate measures to stem the decline in the country's birth rate, even though, at 1.68 children per woman, it still has the highest fertility rate in Europe. Pres. Macron must be applauded for aiming to 're-arm French fertility,' as the country can’t afford to go through a demographic collapse right now.
Narrative B, as provided by Guardian. France, like the rest of Europe, has witnessed a healthy demographic transition since the French Revolution. While the reason for the change has been largely religious, the country enjoys considerable economic benefits of having fewer people. Lower fertility has meant rising living standards, which has kept France a strong nation. Macron's motivation for this policy change is not only economic — it's a political reaction to immigration.