President Emmanuel Macron's government's controversial invocation of executive power to force through a bill by decree – which is legal under the French constitution – has sparked outrage among the political class and angry street protests.
Now the 45-year-old leader faces one of his biggest challenges less than a year into his second and final term.
Mr Macron had hoped his push to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 would cement his legacy as the president who transformed France’s economy for the 21st century. Instead, he found his leadership challenged, both in the French parliament and on the streets of major cities.
Macron’s move to use his government ’s constitutional powers on March 16 to pass a pension reform bill without a vote by lawmakers has angered the political opposition and could hamper his government ’s ability to pass legislation in the remaining four years of its term.
The French leader has remained silent on the subject since then, but a source close to the French president told AFP on Tuesday evening that he was “following developments”.
Credit rating plummets
The political crisis in France that has erupted over the government's pension reform plans is reflected in President Macron's declining approval ratings, according to a new poll released on March 19.
Thousands of people took to the streets in various cities across France. Photo: Brussels Times
According to a monthly poll by the Ifop polling institute, Mr Macron's popularity has fallen to levels not seen since early 2019, when the Yellow Vest protests ended.
The poll, conducted from March 9 to 16, found that only 28% of respondents were satisfied with Mr Macron's administration, down 4% from last month, while 70% were dissatisfied.
Macron’s popularity has dropped 13 percentage points since his re-election in May 2022. It hit a low of 23% in December 2018, at the height of the Yellow Vest protests.
Since becoming French president in 2017, Mr Macron has often been portrayed as arrogant and aloof. Dubbed the “president of the rich”, he sparked outrage by telling an unemployed man that he should just “cross the street” to find work, and by suggesting that some French workers were “lazy”.
Now, Mr Macron’s government has further distanced itself from ordinary people by using the special powers it has under Article 49.3 of the French constitution to impose an unpopular change, said Brice Teinturier, deputy director general of the Ipsos polling institute.
The only winners in this situation are far-right leader Marine Le Pen and her National Rally (NR) party, and France’s labor unions, said Mr Teinturier. Ms Le Pen lost to Mr Macron in the run-offs of the country’s last two presidential elections.
As the piles of garbage grew larger and the stench grew worse, many in Paris blamed the government for the situation rather than the striking workers.
Uncollected trash near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, March 14, 2023. Photo: AP/People's World
Mr Macron has repeatedly said he believes France’s pension system needs to be overhauled to stay financially afloat. He says other proposed options, such as increasing the already heavy tax burden, would push away investments and that reducing pensions for current retirees is not a realistic alternative.
Public displays of discontent could weigh heavily on his future decisions. Spontaneous, sometimes violent, protests have erupted in Paris and across the country in recent days – a contrast to the largely peaceful demonstrations and strikes organized by France’s major unions in the past.
The choices at hand
Mr Macron’s re-election to a second term in April last year cemented his status as a key European leader. He campaigned on a pro-business agenda, pledging to tackle pensions and saying the French must “work longer”.
Last June, Mr. Macron’s centrist coalition lost its majority in the French National Assembly, although it still held more seats than other political parties. At the time, he said his government wanted to “legislate in a different way,” based on compromises with a range of political groups.
Conservative lawmakers have since agreed to support some bills that align with their policies. But tensions over pension plans and widespread distrust between the ideologically diverse parties could end efforts to find compromise.
Left-wing lawmakers hold signs protesting against raising the retirement age to 64 and sing the French national anthem as the French Prime Minister prepares to speak at the French National Assembly, March 16, 2023. Photo: DW
Macron’s political opponents in the French National Assembly on March 17 submitted two no-confidence motions against the government of French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne. Government officials are hoping to “survive” a vote on the motions scheduled for March 20 amid a divided opposition.
However, if the motion passes, it would be a major blow to Mr Macron: the pension bill would be rejected and his cabinet would have to resign. In that case, the French president would need to appoint a new cabinet and would see his ability to pass legislation weakened.
If the no-confidence motion fails, Mr Macron could introduce a law raising the retirement age and try to appease his critics with a government reshuffle, leaving the French prime minister’s future uncertain.
Another option available to President Macron is to dissolve the French National Assembly and call early elections.
That scenario seems unlikely at the moment, as the unpopular pension plan means Mr Macron’s coalition is unlikely to win a majority. And if another party wins, Mr Macron would have to appoint a prime minister from the majority, empowering the government to implement policies that differ from the president’s priorities .
Minh Duc (According to AP, Anadolu Agency, France24)
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