Macron signs French pension reform into law despite fierce protests
French President Emmanuel Macron signed his controversial pension reform into law on Saturday, defying three months of
protests and pleas from unions not to implement the legislation.
The amendments became law after the text was published overnight in France's official journal. This followed the approval on Friday by the Constitutional Council of the essence of the legislation, including the banner change of raising the retirement age from 62 to 64.
Unions warned they were calling for mass Labour Day protests on May 1, and sometimes violent demonstrations erupted in several cities overnight after the verdict was announced.
The battle to implement the law turned into the biggest domestic challenge of Macron's second mandate, as he faced widespread popular opposition to the changes but also sliding personal popularity.
READ ALSO: Protests flare across France after Council's pension reform ruling
The nine-member Constitutional Council ruled in favour of key provisions of the reform, including raising the retirement age to 64 and extending the years of work required for a full pension, saying the legislation was in accordance with French law.
French unions on Friday warned that mass protests would be held on Labour Day, on May 1st. Photo by Julien DE ROSA / AFP
Six minor proposals were rejected, including forcing large companies to publish how many over-55s they employ, and the creation of a special contract for older workers.
The appearance of the text in France's Official Journal – the gazette of record – means it has now been enacted into law.
"The Social Security Code is thus amended. In the first paragraph, the word 'sixty-two' is replaced by the word 'sixty-four'," states the text, referring to the retirement age.
"Not defeated"
But the constitutional court's decision could prove a hollow victory for Macron, as analysts say it has come at a major personal cost for the 45-year-old.
The president's approval ratings are near their lowest levels ever, and many voters have been outraged by his decision to ram the pensions law through parliament without a vote using a legal but controversial mechanism denounced by opponents as anti-democratic.
READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: What is France's Constitutional Council and how does it work?
Polls consistently show that two out of three French people are against working a further two years.
A demonstrator holds a placard reading "Macron imposes, we explode". Photo by Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
Macron has called the change "necessary" to avoid annual pension deficits forecast to hit 13.5 billion euros ($14.8 billion) by 2030, according to government figures.
"Stay the course. That's my motto," Macron said Friday as he inspected Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, four years after a devastating fire nearly destroyed the gothic monument.
Government spokesman Olivier Veran said Macron's address on Monday evening would be in the spirit of "pacification"
But the left-wing Liberation daily said in its headline above a picture of a protest: "Not defeated: opponents of the reform are not going to disarm".
Bikes, e-scooters and garbage were set on fire in the capital overnight while protests rallying hundreds erupted in other cities, including Marseille and Toulouse.
In the western city of Rennes, protesters set fire to the entrance of a police station and a conference centre. Paris police said 112 people had been arrested as of 10:30 pm, while four have been detained over the Rennes incidents.
"Tidal wave" on May 1st
It remains to be seen if the months-long effort by trade unions to block the changes will continue after three months of strikes and protests.
Some 380,000 people had taken to the streets nationwide on Thursday in the latest day of union-led action, according to the interior ministry – a small fraction of the nearly 1.3 million who demonstrated at the height of the protests in March.
READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: Why Friday's court ruling could prolong French pensions dispute for another 15 months
Unions issued a joint statement urging Macron not to sign the legislation into law, saying the issue was "not finished".
The general secretary of the CGT union, Sophie Binet, called for a "popular and historic tidal wave" of people on the streets to oppose the reforms on May 1st.
🔴 Retraites : ce n'est pas fini !
« L’intersyndicale soutient les actions et grèves engagées et les initiatives intersyndicales de proximité
qui seront décidées localement. »
Communiqué de presse intersyndical ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/rrORpLs6hj
— La CGT (@lacgtcommunique) April 14, 2023
Last month, a strike by Paris garbage workers left the capital strewn with 10,000 tonnes of uncollected rubbish.
Train services, oil refineries and schools have seen stoppages since January.
In a second decision on Friday, the court rejected a bid from opposition lawmakers to force a referendum on an alternative pension law that would have kept the retirement age at 62.
France lags behind most of its European neighbours, many of which have hiked the retirement age to 65 or above.
Opponents of the changes say they penalise women and unskilled workers who started their careers early and undercut the right to a long retirement.
By AFP's Stuart Williams
Comments
See Also
The amendments became law after the text was published overnight in France's official journal. This followed the approval on Friday by the Constitutional Council of the essence of the legislation, including the banner change of raising the retirement age from 62 to 64.
Unions warned they were calling for mass Labour Day protests on May 1, and sometimes violent demonstrations erupted in several cities overnight after the verdict was announced.
The battle to implement the law turned into the biggest domestic challenge of Macron's second mandate, as he faced widespread popular opposition to the changes but also sliding personal popularity.
READ ALSO: Protests flare across France after Council's pension reform ruling
The nine-member Constitutional Council ruled in favour of key provisions of the reform, including raising the retirement age to 64 and extending the years of work required for a full pension, saying the legislation was in accordance with French law.
Six minor proposals were rejected, including forcing large companies to publish how many over-55s they employ, and the creation of a special contract for older workers.
The appearance of the text in France's Official Journal – the gazette of record – means it has now been enacted into law.
"The Social Security Code is thus amended. In the first paragraph, the word 'sixty-two' is replaced by the word 'sixty-four'," states the text, referring to the retirement age.
"Not defeated"
But the constitutional court's decision could prove a hollow victory for Macron, as analysts say it has come at a major personal cost for the 45-year-old.
The president's approval ratings are near their lowest levels ever, and many voters have been outraged by his decision to ram the pensions law through parliament without a vote using a legal but controversial mechanism denounced by opponents as anti-democratic.
READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: What is France's Constitutional Council and how does it work?
Polls consistently show that two out of three French people are against working a further two years.
Macron has called the change "necessary" to avoid annual pension deficits forecast to hit 13.5 billion euros ($14.8 billion) by 2030, according to government figures.
"Stay the course. That's my motto," Macron said Friday as he inspected Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, four years after a devastating fire nearly destroyed the gothic monument.
Government spokesman Olivier Veran said Macron's address on Monday evening would be in the spirit of "pacification"
But the left-wing Liberation daily said in its headline above a picture of a protest: "Not defeated: opponents of the reform are not going to disarm".
Bikes, e-scooters and garbage were set on fire in the capital overnight while protests rallying hundreds erupted in other cities, including Marseille and Toulouse.
In the western city of Rennes, protesters set fire to the entrance of a police station and a conference centre. Paris police said 112 people had been arrested as of 10:30 pm, while four have been detained over the Rennes incidents.
"Tidal wave" on May 1st
It remains to be seen if the months-long effort by trade unions to block the changes will continue after three months of strikes and protests.
Some 380,000 people had taken to the streets nationwide on Thursday in the latest day of union-led action, according to the interior ministry – a small fraction of the nearly 1.3 million who demonstrated at the height of the protests in March.
READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: Why Friday's court ruling could prolong French pensions dispute for another 15 months
Unions issued a joint statement urging Macron not to sign the legislation into law, saying the issue was "not finished".
The general secretary of the CGT union, Sophie Binet, called for a "popular and historic tidal wave" of people on the streets to oppose the reforms on May 1st.
🔴 Retraites : ce n'est pas fini !
— La CGT (@lacgtcommunique) April 14, 2023
« L’intersyndicale soutient les actions et grèves engagées et les initiatives intersyndicales de proximité
qui seront décidées localement. »
Communiqué de presse intersyndical ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/rrORpLs6hj
Last month, a strike by Paris garbage workers left the capital strewn with 10,000 tonnes of uncollected rubbish.
Train services, oil refineries and schools have seen stoppages since January.
In a second decision on Friday, the court rejected a bid from opposition lawmakers to force a referendum on an alternative pension law that would have kept the retirement age at 62.
France lags behind most of its European neighbours, many of which have hiked the retirement age to 65 or above.
Opponents of the changes say they penalise women and unskilled workers who started their careers early and undercut the right to a long retirement.
By AFP's Stuart Williams
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.