The French Constitutional Council validated, this Friday, April 14, the delay of the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64 years, the main measure of pension reform approved by him government of President Emmanuel Macron.
Furthermore, the organism rejection the request that the pension reform mar submitted to a citizen initiative referendum, as announced in a statement. On the other hand, it did invalidate six articles of the law, especially two related to the promotion of Hiring workers over 55 years of age in large companies, considering that they have no place in a Social Security financing law.
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A source from the organization explained to the press that, when validating the increase to 64 years, its nine members took into account «that the legislator seeks the survival of the system by distribution, also taking into account the increase in life expectancy«.
They also suggested that the deliberations stretched for 16 hours straight, but contrary to say whether or not the decision was unanimous.
The source announced that the Constitutional Council will study a new request for a citizen initiative referendum on May 3, but with a different issue than the one raised so far.
The new petition includes a provision that proposes a new tax related to the maintenance of the pension system that would mean «a change in the rule of lawadmissible by the Council.
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Shortly after that saved opinion was published, several Demonstrations and rallies were called in France.
In Paris, was burning street furniture, among them some thirty garbage containers, and clashes between police and protesters that led to 112 arrests.
Rennes, In the northeast of the country, it was another of the cities that was disturbed by notable disturbances: the door of a police station and the entrance to an old religious building were set on fire at the end of a protest by several hundred young people. Both fires were quickly extinguished.
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In a message on Twitter, the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, called «unacceptable«Both incidents and I am sure that their authors will answer before the Justice.
Protests in France.
Despite social and political pressure, the Government has the intention of enacting the law this weekend, According to official sources told local media, after a verdict that ended conflicting reactions in the French political class.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said that, with its decision, the Constitutional Council considered that «both in substance and in procedure«, the reform is in accordance with the Constitution.
«There are no winners or losers«, Borne said on Twitter.
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The government stressed in a statement that the ruling of the constitutional «marks the end of the institutional and democratic path of reform«, and reiterated that his will is»continue consultation with the social partners«.
Instead, the unions already rejected an invitation from Macron to a meeting, next Tuesday, April 18, to discuss issues not related to pensions, after the president did not want to receive them while the reform was being debated.
Unions call for ‘great mobilization’ on May 1
The unions called for a «great popular mobilization» for May 1st, it must be a moment»historical«to stop the reform, announced the general secretariat of the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), Sophie Binet, during a protest rally in Paris.
Binet said that the unions ask Macron to «return to common sense«and return the law to the National Assembly so that the deputies can debate and vote on it, since it occurred without a vote in that Chamber (the Government activated a constitutional article that allowed it).
The trade unionist will also apply that, if the reform is enacted, «no union organization will go to meet with the president to discuss anything other than this reform«, and accused Macron of»rule the country against its people«.
the eight main unions in the country will meet next Monday, April 17, to study new protest measures, after 12 days of strikes and mobilizations at the national level since January.
(See: French government imposes pension reform without the vote of deputies).
The decision of the Constitutional Council represents a «dangerous precedent» because the Government could continue to use the legal figure of a rectifying budget to «push through major reforms«, affirmed the president of the group of La Francia Insumisa in the National Assembly, Mathilde Panot.
Constitutional Council of France.
In an appearance with the other leaders of the parties that make up the leftist Nupes coalition (socialist, environmentalist, communist), Panot said that will continue to support the protests and strikes against the reform and launched a new appeal to Macron to withdraw the law.
«It will not be the Constitutional Council that will change the opinion of the French people«, he reiterated, alluding to the fact that around 70% of citizens reject the reform, according to surveys.
far-right leader marina lepen, avoid, for their part, that the entry into force of «this brutal and unfair reform» will mark «the definitive break between the French people and Emmanuel Macron«.
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The decision of the Constitutional Council came after a tense day of waiting, with some 230 protest marches called by unions across the country, including a rally in the Town Hall Square in Paris.
The very headquarters of the Constitutional Council was armored since this Thursday, April 13, with barriers and riot police, and the prohibition to organize concentrations in its mediations.
EFE