French President Emmanuel Macron signed a contentious pension reform bill that raises the retirement age by two years into law despite widespread opposition.
The bill’s text was made public on Saturday in the official journal, which serves as France’s official gazette. The retirement age is increased from 62 to 64.
The nation has one of the most generous retirement systems among industrialized nations. 65 is the retirement age in the majority of other European nations.
The text was upheld on Friday by the Constitutional Council’s nine members. It determined that the government’s decision to increase the retirement age was constitutional.
However, it rejected several reform-related initiatives that it did not deem necessary, such as a left-leaning opponent of Macron’s plan for a vote on the age issue.
General strikes have shaken France, and there have been numerous instances of people fighting with police in the streets. Protests and strikes continue to have a significant impact on many facets of daily life.
Macron has claimed that the plan is the only way to save the country’s pension system from collapsing, despite having attempted to pass the law during his first term.
The legislation has been used as yet another chance by opposition political parties to portray the suave president as being “out of touch” with the interests of French folks.
Unions have called for demonstrations all around the country on May 1, International Workers’ Day.
