Among other things, the main guardians of the constitution passed the most important point of reform, raising the retirement age from 62 to 64. However, hundreds of thousands have protested the project since the beginning of the year.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s controversial pension reform could come into effect. The French Constitutional Council approved the main points of the controversial pension reform. In a statement issued late on Friday, the main guardians of the constitution approved, among other things, the Macron government’s most important reform bill, raising the retirement age from 62 to 64. They rejected other points of the reform bill.
For Macron, it is a success in the month-long race for reform. But the protests could be further fueled by the decision.
Hundreds of thousands regularly protest the reform
Macron and the centrist government want to avoid an imminent hole in the pension fund with the reform. The full pension payment term should increase faster. Currently, the retirement age in France is 62. In fact, retirement starts later on average: those who haven’t paid enough time for a full pension work longer. At the age of 67 there will be a pension without discount, regardless of the time of payment – it should remain so.
The project is extremely controversial in France. Unions consider this brutal and unfair. Hundreds of thousands have been on strike and protesting the reform since the beginning of the year. The government and opposition also exchanged heated blows in parliament. To avoid imminent defeat, the government decided at the last minute to push through the reform without a final vote by the National Assembly. National deputies from the left and right, senators from the left and Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne then convened the Constitutional Council.
Special contract for older workers rejected
Among other things, deputies complained that the government packaged the reform in a budget text and shortened the time for debate in parliament. However, the supreme guardians of the French constitution saw no problem with this. On the other hand, they did not agree with a mandatory list of older workers for larger companies and a special contract for older workers because they were not related to finance.
Even if unions want to respect the Constitutional Council’s decision, protests against the reform could continue. It is conceivable that there will now be more spontaneous action – possibly again with riots and violence. Some more radical groups may also continue their strikes. The Constitutional Council rejected a referendum procedure intended to limit the retirement age to 62.
(APA/AFP/dpa)