France Announces Critical Decision on Controversial Pension Reform

France’s Constitutional Council is set to make a decision that will determine the future of the government’s controversial pension reform. The decision will be announced at 6:00 PM local time today, and it will decide whether the reform is in conformity with the constitution. The reform has been the most significant issue in the country for the past three months, leading to violent protests in the streets. The 9-member Council, chaired by former French Prime Minister Laurent Fabius, will decide whether the reform is «totally unconstitutional», «partially unconstitutional» or «appropriate.» If the Council finds the reform «totally unconstitutional», it will not come into effect, but if it deems it «partially unconstitutional,» French President Emmanuel Macron will be able to enact the reform without any unconstitutional clauses. If the Council rules that the reform is in line with the constitution, Macron will be able to enact it.

More than 100 demonstrations are set to be held across the country today against the reform. On the 12th day of protests, held yesterday, in the demonstration held in the capital Paris, 80 people were detained, and 76 security forces were injured. Mass demonstrations in France, which began on 16 March, continue after the government’s decision to pass the bill, which includes increasing the retirement age from 62 to 64, without voting. Violence is taking place in many parts of the country between the police and the demonstrators. More than 1,000 people have been detained in protests across the country since March 16. The opposition and government have applied to the Constitutional Council to determine whether the reform is constitutional.

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