Will the fate of French President Macron's pension reform be sealed?

On April 14, the French Constitutional Council approved key elements of President Emmanuel Macron 's controversial pension reform, while rejecting certain parts of the law.

The reform in the law, raising the retirement age from 62 to 64, was approved by the French Constitutional Council after nearly three months of political and social crisis in France due to protests against the bill. Now President Macron can sign the bill into law within 15 days.

The council rejected six measures deemed unfundamental to the nature of the reform, and also rejected the left-wing demand for a referendum on an alternative pension law that would keep the retirement age at 62. The council will rule on a similar request next month.

This decision demoralized and angered critics of the pension plan, including protesters who gathered outside Paris City Hall on the evening of April 14th when the French Constitutional Council's ruling was announced. Most protesters chanted slogans peacefully, while some set fire to trash cans.

World - Is the fate of French President Macron's pension reform already decided? — Trash is dumped in front of the French Constitutional Council building in Paris, April 13, 2023. Photo: Twitter

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said the decision “marks the end of the institutional and democratic path of this reform,” adding that there are “no winners” in what has become a nationwide stalemate and France’s worst social unrest in years.

French hardline leftist Jean-Luc Mélenchon declared that the fight against Macron's pension reforms would continue despite the supreme constitutional court's approval of the major changes.

“The fight continues and we must rally our forces,” wrote the leader of the La France Insoumise (LFI – Unbowed France ) party on Twitter. The leader of the French Communist Party, Fabien Roussel, said that signing the law “would not be adding fuel to the fire, but rather filling a can with gasoline.”

"I'm afraid the anger will erupt," Roussel told BFM.

Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party, added that the fate of the reforms "is not decided" despite the ruling.

In a last-ditch effort, French trade unions are urging Macron not to sign the reform into law.

"Given the widespread public opposition to this reform, the unions earnestly urge him not to enact this law, the only way to appease the anger being expressed in the country," a joint statement from the unions sent to Agence France-Presse (AFP) said.

Although union leaders have said that the Council's ruling will be respected, they have also declared that they will continue their protests in an effort to deter Macron.

World - Is the fate of French President Macron's pension reform decided? (Figure 2). — A French gendarme stands guard as a security cordon is established around the French Constitutional Council building (Conseil Constitutionnel), April 14, 2023. Photo: Le Monde

World - Is the fate of French President Macron's pension reform decided? (Figure 3). — Nine members of the French Constitutional Council (Conseil Constitutionnel). Photo: La Montagne

Meanwhile, Macron said last month that he wanted the pension reform plan implemented by the end of this year. Some political observers suggest he may try to appease opponents with a government reshuffle in the coming weeks or months.

The French leader recently also offered to meet with union representatives on April 18, regardless of the Constitutional Council's ruling.

Polls have consistently shown that a majority of French citizens oppose having to work an additional two years before being eligible for retirement benefits .

Minh Duc (Based on Le Monde, AP, Euronews)

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