Macron signs pension reform into law, but gloom deepens in France

Name: Protesters damage President Macron’s favourite bistro, as pension demonstrations turn violent
Uploaded: 2023-04-14T17:34:39.000Z
Duration: 2 min 31 s
Description: Protesters damage President Macron’s favourite bistro, as pension demonstrations turn violent

The bill became law after it was published in France’s official journal as labour unions called for more protests on May 1, saying the issue was ‘not finished’

Earlier, the constitutional court approved core parts of the legislation that paved the way for the president to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64

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Protestors burn motocycles in front of the Hotel de Ville in Paris after France’s Constitutional Council approved the key elements of French President’s pension reform on Friday. Photo: AFP

Agence France-Presse

Published: 1:34am, 15 Apr 2023Updated: 3:11pm, 15 Apr 2023

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 alterations 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.

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Protesters damage President Macron’s favourite bistro, as pension demonstrations turn violent

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.