On Thursday, the French government used its executive powers to pass a decree on President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform, avoiding a vote on the controversial proposal, which will increase the retirement age from 62 to 64.
Overview
The French Council of Ministers used powers granted by Article 49.3 of the Constitution, allowing them to avoid a vote in the National Assembly and adopt the reform.
Met with lawmakers’ heckling, PM Elisabeth Borne dismissed the National Assembly. She said, “We cannot gamble with the future of our retirement [...] We cannot gamble on the future of our pensions. The reform is necessary.”
🔴 DIRECT -
— franceinfo (@franceinfo) March 16, 2023
A l'Assemblée nationale, une partie de l'opposition entonne La Marseillaise, empêchant Elisabeth Borne de parler. Toute l'Assemblée se lève à son tour. La séance a été suspendue deux minutes. pic.twitter.com/WJNlqo3i0D
Borne blamed legislators from the Les Républicains party for going against the reform and forcing the government to pass the proposal by decree.
The decision to use the executive power came as Macron was unsure of receiving sufficient support to pass the proposal in the National Assembly.
The upper house adopted the bill on Thursday, with 193 supporting the changes and 114 opposing.
#Toulouse ne pliera jamais face à @Elisabeth_Borne.#ReformesDesRetraites #ReformeRetraites
— Hadrien Clouet (@HadrienClouet) March 16, 2023
#49.3 pic.twitter.com/Lpe69vQRlg
Opposition Surges
Anger surged among opposition parties and protestors as the government used the constitutional tool. Three opposition groups declared on Thursday that they would conduct a no-confidence vote against the government.
Meanwhile, thousands of protestors gathered in several cities, including Paris and Marseille, to oppose the move. They were met with water cannons as protests turned violent. The authorities arrested 217 people for public disruption.
FRANCE - Macron has triggered Article 49.3
— Bernie's Tweets (@BernieSpofforth) March 16, 2023
This adopts his pension reform plan WITHOUT a vote in the French National Assembly.
The people chant for him to resign, after weeks of violent protests. But no one is listening to the people anymore.
pic.twitter.com/Q4JVTH10ja
In addition, workers’ unions called for nationwide strikes against the proposal on 23 March. The union leaders also convened on Thursday to determine the way ahead.
Macron’s Pension Reforms
In France, every citizen in retirement is entitled to receive a state pension, funded by contributions of those still working. It is currently at $1,500 per month, which the reforms intend to bring down to $1,300.
The pension system in France is set to go into losses in the coming years. In addition, with an increasingly ageing population, the number of beneficiaries will increase while the number of contributors will continue to drop.
French PM Elizabeth Borne has invoked article 49.3, allowing her to push Pres. Macron’s pension reform through Parliament without a vote. Take a look as Paris burns:pic.twitter.com/zAzFqNuHId
— Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) March 16, 2023
According to France’s Labour Ministry, the amendments will bring in an additional $19.18 billion worth of pension contributions every year.
However, workers’ unions argue that they must now work longer to access their pensions. Opposing the proposal, 500,000 workers protested across the country on Wednesday. In fact, since 7 March, 1.28 million have been reported to have participated in nationwide protests.