French Government Implements Controversial Pension Reforms Despite Protests and Strikes

French President Emmanuel Macron has signed the controversial pension reforms into law, increasing the state pension age from 62 to 64. The move came after the Constitutional Council approved the changes, rejecting opposition calls for a referendum but also removing some aspects of the reforms due to legal flaws.

The reforms have faced strong opposition, with protests and strikes occurring for twelve days since January. The approval of the reforms has led to further protests and unrest in Paris, with 112 people arrested.

Unions have vowed to continue their opposition, calling for more demonstrations on 1 May. President Macron has defended the reforms as necessary to prevent the pension system from collapsing, and the government used special powers to implement the changes in March.

Trade unions made a final appeal to President Macron not to sign the pension-age increase into law following the Constitutional Court’s ruling. They argued that the rejected concessions made the reforms even more unbalanced.

The court struck down some of the reforms, including the “senior index” which encouraged companies to employ workers over 55. In response, Olivier Dussopt, Minister Delegate in charge of Public Accounts, promised to improve employment rates for those over 50 to ease concerns about the financial impact of the raised retirement age.

Despite a ban on protests outside the Constitutional Council building, demonstrators gathered nearby and jeered at the ruling.

Following the signing of the pension reforms into law, protesters expressed their intent to continue their demonstrations until the changes were withdrawn. Riots broke out in Paris, with several fires being set across the city, and police using tear gas to control the situation.

The police arrested 112 people. There were also protests in Rennes and Nantes, with fires being lit during the demonstrations. In Lyon, there were tense standoffs between protesters and police.

A protester named Lucy, aged 21, expressed her disappointment, saying that no one is listening to them despite their efforts to raise their voices. She vowed to continue protesting.

French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne tweeted that there were no winners or losers following the signing of the pension reforms into law. While the Constitutional Council rejected an initial bid for a referendum on the reforms, it will consider another proposal for a national vote by the left next month.

According to French political analyst Antoine Bristielle, the protests that have taken place across France for the past three months are unlikely to end soon. He noted that despite the expected approval of the reforms, there is still significant opposition to the changes, with 70% of the French population against them. Bristielle predicted that there will be more riots and strikes in the country in the coming hours and over the weekend.

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