France has been unsettled for some time because President Macron’s government wants to reform the pension system. An important part of the government’s plans is to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.
Parliament sidelined
Last week, the French Senate (upper chamber) approved the proposal. Parliament was also expected to vote on the measure later in the day. But just before the meeting was due to start in parliament, the Council of Ministers held a meeting and French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne decided to skip the vote.
This was done by deploying an article from the constitution that sidelined parliament. Riots then broke out, including in Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Toulouse. You can see images of it here:
Yesterday evening there were again confrontations between police and demonstrators in several French cities. Shortly before, there had been two votes in parliament on motions of no confidence against the government of Macron and Borne.
Tear gas
Those motions were the last chances to block the new law, but they did not pass. One of the motions received the support of 278 MPs, nine too few to overthrow the government.
The demonstrators then once again took to the streets en masse. Riots broke out in several cities. Riot police used tear gas to disperse the crowds.
It was a surprise that the government survived the motion so narrowly. It was assumed that a 61-seat centre-right opposition party, Les Républicains, would amply prevent the fall of the government.
Unjust and unnecessary
President Emmanuel Macron will talk to journalists about the plans on TV today at 1 p.m. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne will soon submit the draft pension reform bill to the Constitutional Council for approval.
Throughout France, demonstrations and blockades are taking place in protest. Many empty gas pumps have already been reported, especially in the southwest. According to the government, the adjustments to the expensive and complicated pension system are necessary, because otherwise it will no longer be possible with more and more pensioners. Opponents argue that the reforms are unjust and unnecessary.
