Constitutional Council rules on French pension reform
As previously expected, the nine-member body approved most points of the pension reform, including raising the retirement age to 64. Also, there will be no referendum on the reform.
After months of social conflict, the nine-strong French Constitutional Council took its decision in a tense situation. The body was charged with the formidable task of deciding whether the pension reform bill was in line with the Constitution.
The Constitutional Council’s meeting was met with significant anticipation, as it was anyone’s guess which of the three options – adoption, partial amendment, or rejection of the draft law – the Council would ultimately select. Given the highly charged atmosphere in the country, the prefect issued a decree prohibiting rallies in certain areas of the capital. Despite this, the authorities expected riots to break out in front of the Constitutional Council if the pension reform was adopted. As a precaution, they barricaded the building’s entrance to prevent protesters from entering and stationed riot police in the area.
Le conseil constitutionnel se barricade avant de remettre sa décision sur la réforme des retraites. pic.twitter.com/syjmpJznIs
— Remy Buisine (@RemyBuisine) April 14, 2023
Protesters mobilised well ahead of the Constitutional Council’s decision, with a demonstration planned in front of Paris City Hall. The Force Ouvriere union was set to begin its protest at 6 pm, followed by the CGT at 7 pm.
Vendredi soir agité sur la place de l’hôtel de ville, á Paris :
– Rassemblement organisé par Force ouvrière á 18h
– Rassemblement organisé par la CGT á 19h#ConseilConstitutionnel #Olé pic.twitter.com/NGwxRu3Y7H— Wladimir Garcin-Berson (@vladogb) April 14, 2023
In the meantime, Emmanuel Macron has also responded to the events and, regardless of the outcome of the Constitutional Council’s meeting, scheduled a meeting with trade union representatives for Tuesday, 18 April, Le Figaro reported.
The Constitutional Council finally announced its decision to the press a few minutes before 6 pm. The body approved he pension reform, including its most controversial point, the increase of the retirement age from 62 to 64, as constitutional.
🇫🇷 Retraites: le Conseil constitutionnel valide l’essentiel de la réforme, dont le report de l’âge de départ á 64 ans #AFP pic.twitter.com/CogLSDOQ8R
— Agence France-Presse (@afpfr) April 14, 2023
The body also rejected the referendum request on the reform.
#Retraites: le Conseil constitutionnel rejette une demande pour un référendum #AFP pic.twitter.com/vBQxX5Xc66
— Agence France-Presse (@afpfr) April 14, 2023
The Constitutional Council’s decision shows that the body is prioritising the need for a presidential monarchy over a sovereign people, said Jean-Luc Melenchon, the leader of the leftist Nupes coalition. The fight will continue and that forces must be united, he added.
La décision du Conseil constitutionnel montre qu’il est plus attentif aux besoins de la monarchie présidentielle qu’á ceux du peuple souverain. La lutte continue et doit rassembler ses forces.
— Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) April 14, 2023
Right-wing politician Marine Le Pen also commented on the news, writing on Twitter that although the Constitutional Council’s decision has institutionally closed the debate on the pension reform, its political fate is not yet sealed, as the people always have the last word.
Si la décision du Conseil constitutionnel clôt la séquence institutionnelle, le sort politique de la réforme des retraites n’est pas scellé. Le peuple ayant toujours le dernier mot, il lui appartiendra de préparer l’alternance qui reviendra sur cette réforme inutile et injuste.
— Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) April 14, 2023
According to press reports, the head of state will not waste much time after the approval of the pension reform, planning to announce it within 48 hours.
🔴 ALERTE INFO
Réforme des retraites: la loi sera promulguée par Emmanuel Macron sous 48 heureshttps://t.co/a9I5R8FwU6 pic.twitter.com/WzA7ekZ1Qw— BFMTV (@BFMTV) April 14, 2023