The “constitutional” pension law in France reaches the finish line with force

Demonstrations in various regions and banditry did not prevent the convening of the Constitutional Council in France, and put the controversial pension reform law in place.

Today, Friday, France’s constitutional council passed the most important part of a pension reform law, the key project of Emmanuel Macron’s second term, which has been facing months of opposition by unions, opposition, and protesters.

A statement from the council said its members rejected a number of minor aspects of the reform, but did not object to the main measure raising the legal retirement age from 62 to 64.

The Constitutional Council also refused to hold a referendum to approve pension reforms, AFP reported the council as saying in a statement.

Macron prepares to sign

Following the council’s statement, French media quoted Elysee as saying that Macron will sign a legal reform of the pension system within the next 48 hours, putting reforms on track.

In an attempt to hold onto the latter hope, the French unions demanded that Macron not issue a pension reform law.

These developments came on the way to reforms, although protests were again organized across France on Friday.

A demonstration broke out on Friday afternoon in Paris, as well as more protests in other cities across the country, and roads were closed and blocked across the country.

The protests are against a gradual increase in the retirement age from 62 to 64 years old, and the center-right government wants to close a looming gap in the pension fund by adjusting.

The dispute intensified as the French government pushed the text forward to pass it through the National Assembly without a vote.

Violent reactions to the law

Since then, the protests, which have been peaceful for weeks, have been overshadowed by violence, with clashes with police leading to the injury of around 1,100 police and firefighters as of early April, according to the French Interior Ministry.

The ministry said in a press statement that 1,093 police and firefighters have been injured since protests began in March, adding that there have been 2,579 incidents of arson and 316 attacks on public buildings.

The French government had earlier rejected a new union demand to reconsider the draft law, which extends the retirement age by two years to 64, much to the chagrin of labor leaders, who demanded the government find a way out of the crisis.

The Government said that it was ready to talk to the unions, but on other matters, and emphasized its adherence to its position on the Retirement Law.