PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday signed a controversial pension reform bill into law, raising the retirement age in France from 62 years to 64 years, despite three months of protests and pleas from unions.
The bill became law after the text was published in France’s official journal in the early hours of Saturday, prompting accusations from the opposition that Macron was seeking to smuggle it through during the night.
The decision was immediately met with calls for mass Labor Day protests on May 1, and violent demonstrations erupted in several cities.
The legislation is the biggest domestic challenge of Macron’s second mandate, as he faces widespread popular opposition to the changes and sliding personal popularity.
Macron’s swift signing of the law shows “disdain” towards the protest movement, according to Socialist leader Olivier Faure, while hard-left MP Francois Ruffin called it a “democratic hold-up.”
French Communist Party chief Fabien Roussel also criticized the move on Twitter, saying, “Everyone on the street May 1.”
The French Constitutional Council has upheld several provisions of President Macron’s pension reform, which includes raising the retirement age to 64 and increasing the number of years needed for a full pension.
However, some minor proposals, such as requiring large companies to disclose the number of employees over 55 and creating a special contract for older workers, were rejected.
The decision to push the legislation without a vote has been criticized by opponents, who consider it undemocratic.
Widespread protests in France against pension reforms
The reform has been met with protests, with two out of three French citizens opposing it. The government argues that the changes are necessary to avoid predicted annual pension deficits of €13.5 billion by 2030. Unions have called for further protests and urged Macron not to sign the bill into law.
The court has also rejected a proposal for a referendum on an alternative pension law that would have maintained the retirement age at 62.
Opponents claim that the reform disadvantages women and unskilled workers who began their careers early and undermined the right to a long retirement.
