Macron signs France pension reform into law despite protests

The Constitutional Council approves the main provisions of the reform, including raising the retirement age to 64.

French President Emmanuel Macron has signed a controversial bill to raise the retirement age by two years.

The promulgation of the law came after France’s constitutional council approved the key retirement age measure on Friday and followed months of protests against the reform, which forced the government through parliament without a final vote.

The battle to implement the law became the biggest domestic challenge of Macron’s second term in office, as he faced widespread popular opposition to the changes, as well as declining personal popularity.

The nine-member Constitutional Council ruled in favor of key provisions of the reform, including raising the retirement age to 64 and extending the number of years required for a full pension, saying the legislation was in line with French law.

Six small proposals were rejected, including forcing large companies to publish how many over-55s they employ, and creating a special contract for older workers.

The appearance of the text in the French Official Journal – the State Gazette – means that it has now been passed into law.

“So the Social Security Code will be amended. In the first paragraph comes the word: ‘sixty-two; is replaced by the word: ‘sixty-four’”, the text reads, referring to the retirement age.

‘We don’t want it’

Spontaneous demonstrations were held across France before the council’s verdict.

Opponents of the pension reform blocked access points to some cities, including Rouen in the west and Marseille in the south, causing traffic to slow or stop.

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne was disturbed while visiting a supermarket outside Paris by a group of people shouting “We don’t want it”, referring to the way she sidestepped the vote by lawmakers to advance pension reform.

The government’s decision to evade a parliamentary vote in March by using special constitutional powers increased the anger of opponents of the measure, as well as their determination. Another group was waiting for Borne in the parking lot.

Union leaders have said the Constitutional Council’s decisions would be respected, but have pledged to continue protests in an attempt to get Macron to withdraw the measure.

CGT union general secretary Sophie Binet on May 1 called for a “popular and historic flood” of people on the streets to oppose the reforms.

Far-right MP Marine Le Pen denounced the pension reform as “brutal and unjust”. In a statement, she said that once the reform is put into practice, it will “mark the final break between the French people and Emmanuel Macron”.

Polls consistently show that the majority of French citizens are against working two more years before they can retire.

The legislation also requires people to work 43 years to receive a full pension, among other changes to the system.