The senator of the Alpes-Maritimes and municipal councilor of Nice emphasizes the recognition of volunteer firefighters. She calls for a reduction in the threshold for pension credits and a guarantee on the funding of the New Loyalty and Recognition Service (NPFR).
In Nice, Dominique Estrosi Sassone, senator of Alpes-Maritimes and chair of the Senate’s Economic Affairs Committee, spoke out to defend volunteer firefighters. As a municipal and metropolitan councilor, she directly links this national issue to local realities. Alpes-Maritimes has numerous volunteers who ensure civil safety under often difficult conditions, such as during storms Alex and Aline that affected the department.
The question raised by the Nice elected official to the government is about the retirement of volunteer firefighters. They do not receive salaries but allowances. Their commitment is based on voluntarism and may last from a few years to several decades. For Dominique Estrosi Sassone, this situation deserves clear recognition.
She recalls that the amended Social Security Financing Law of April 14, 2023 had planned for pension credits to begin after ten years of service. However, the current system sets the threshold at fifteen years. The elected official emphasizes that this difference excludes some volunteers.
Tense exchanges with the government
In her response, the Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Interior confirmed the implementation of the pension credits. She stated that the fifteen-year threshold was chosen “for consistency with the first threshold set at 15 years for the NPFR to encourage those who today break their commitment after 12 years.”
The minister added that “the reassessment of the measure will always be possible based on the evaluation of the system’s implementation.” She also stressed the need to retain volunteers. According to her, the NPFR is already showing its effectiveness, with the average duration of commitment increasing by six months in two years.
Regarding funding, the government states it does not wish to reconsider the state’s share, which covers 50% of the NPFR’s cost. However, it acknowledges that budgetary balances need to be studied with the local authorities and the association managing the system.
Dominique Estrosi Sassone reacted immediately. She declared: “everyone makes the same observation. Action is now needed. A firefighters’ union has recently filed a complaint, so the ball is in the government’s court.”
This response illustrates the tension between local officials and the executive. In Nice, the mobilization of volunteer firefighters is strong. Their role is essential in fire prevention and crisis management. Local officials believe that their commitment should be recognized after ten years of service, as initially planned by Parliament.
The stakes for the Nice metropolitan area
The Nice Côte d’Azur metropolitan area regularly faces major risks: forest fires, floods, large-scale accidents. Volunteer firefighters play a central role. Their presence in rural and peri-urban municipalities ensures rapid and effective coverage.
The question of their retirement and the NPFR is therefore not just symbolic. It directly affects the metropolitan area’s ability to maintain a robust network of volunteers. If the conditions for recognition and funding are not deemed sufficient, the risk is a decrease in the number of volunteers available.
Volunteer firefighter unions have already expressed their discontent. The recently filed complaint shows that the issue extends beyond the parliamentary framework. In Nice, local officials are closely monitoring the case’s progress. They expect concrete measures to prevent any exclusion of volunteers who have served less than fifteen years.
Dominique Estrosi Sassone insists on the need for a stable financial framework for the NPFR. She considers that without long-term guarantees, the engagement of volunteers cannot be effectively promoted.
A decision awaited in 2026
The Prime Minister has confirmed that the pension credits will take effect in 2026. But the debate remains open regarding the chosen threshold and the sustainability of funding. Nice’s officials, on the front line, want to ensure that the spirit of the law passed by Parliament is respected.
The senator of the Alpes-Maritimes continues to champion this cause from Nice. She links national issues to local realities, reminding that volunteer firefighters are “the pillars of our civil safety.”
