The Official Journal of the French Republic reflects the change in the statutory retirement age in the Social Security Code, the most opposed article of the reform and the reason the country’s main unions have put their differences behind them to unite against the initiative.
Macron had 15 days to enact the text, and indeed he published it faster than expected, despite solemn calls from unions and political leaders not to do so.
The union, a movement that has taken millions to the streets in 12 days of protests since January 19, had urged the president not to go ahead with his project and warned he would not heed his invitation to Tuesday’s dialogue going to say goodbye to the book page.
In this sense, he announced on Monday a meeting to define the next steps in view of the reform declared constitutional by the Council yesterday, a decision that led to demonstrations with some episodes of violence in different cities of France.
Law enforcement arrested more than a hundred people in this capital, while special police forces were dispatched to the north of Rennes following a fire at the door of a police station.
According to leaders such as the leader of La France Unsubmissive, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the national secretary of the Communist Party, Fabien Roussel, and the first secretary of the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure, the fight against pension reform will continue with various proposals once the legal possibilities are exhausted.
The leader of the extreme right, Marine Le Pen, also criticized the government for its project and insisted that “the people always have the last word”, alluding to the French majority’s opposition to the project.
New demonstrations are planned for this Saturday in various cities, pending what the union will decide on the possible upcoming protests, with the call from now on by some voices of the social movement to transform the May Day parades, International Workers ‘Day in a day against pension reform.
ro/wmr