France’s Constitutional Council on Friday approved key elements of President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform, while rejecting certain parts of the legislation, paving the way for implementation of the reform that has sparked protests in recent months.
The reform to the legislation to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 years was validated by the Constitutional Council after almost three months of protests against the measure.
The court struck down six measures not considered fundamental to the substance of the reform and rejected a request from the left for a referendum on an alternative pension law that would keep the retirement age at 62.
Among the measures rejected are efforts to force big companies to publish data on the number of people over 55 they employ and a separate idea to create a special contract for older workers.
The decision represents a victory for Macron, but analysts say it came at a great personal cost, while also causing months of unrest in the country with sometimes violent protests that left hundreds injured.
Macron’s popularity is near record lows and many voters have been outraged by his decision to defy hostile public opinion and pass the pension bill through the lower house of parliament without a vote.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the French left, assured that the fight against the reform has not ended, despite the fact that the main measures have been approved by the Constitutional Council.
“The fight continues and must gain strength,” the leader of the France Insoumisa party wrote on Twitter.
La décision du Conseil constitutionnel montre qu’il est plus attentif aux besoins de la monarchie présidentielle qu’à ceux du peuple souverain. La lutte continua et doit rassembler ses force.
– Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) April 14, 2023
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen added that the fate of the reform was not “sealed” despite the decision.
If the decision of the Conseil constitutionnel clôt la sequence Institutionnelle, le sort politique de la réforme des retraites n”est pas scellé.
-Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) April 14, 2023
Source: TSF
