The Constitutional Council gives the green light to Macron’s controversial pension reform

French President Emmanuel Macron’s controversial pension reform may come into effect. On Friday, the Constitutional Council declared that the plan to gradually raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 is essentially constitutional. For Macron, it is a success in the months-long dispute over the reform. But the protests could be further sparked by the decision.

Macron and the center government want to prevent an imminent gap in the pension fund with the reform. The payment period for a full pension should increase more quickly. The retirement age in France is currently 62 years. In fact, retirement starts later on average: those who have not paid in long enough to receive a full pension continue to work longer. At age 67, there will be a no-withholding pension no matter how long it has been paid – it should stay that way.

The project is highly controversial in France. The unions find it cruel and unjust. Hundreds of thousands have been on strike since the beginning of the year, regularly protesting the reform. The government and opposition also exchanged fierce blows in parliament. To avoid impending defeat, the government decided at the last minute to pass the reform without a final vote by the National Assembly. Left and right national MPs, left-wing senators and Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne then convened the Constitutional Council.

The MPs complained, among other things, that the government wrapped the reform in a budget text and shortened the debate time in parliament. However, the supreme guardians of the French constitution saw no problem in this. On the other hand, they admitted a list of older workers that was mandatory for larger companies and a special contract for older workers because they had nothing to do with finances.

Even if the unions want to respect the Constitutional Council’s decision, protests against the reform could continue. It is conceivable that there will now be more spontaneous actions – possibly with riots and violence again. Some more radical groups could also continue their strikes. The Constitutional Council rejected a referendum procedure that wanted to limit the retirement age to 62 years. (sda/dpa)