Macron forces through controversial pension reform without parliamentary vote

The French National Assembly on March 16, 2023 erupted in boos after the government announced the triggering of Article 49.3

AFP.com, 16 March, 2023- French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday decided to trigger Article 49.3 of the French constitution, which granted the government executive privilege to push through controversial pension reforms without a parliamentary vote. The move gives the opposition the right to immediately call a confidence vote and risks further inflaming the protest movement after months of demonstrations.   The decision was made just a few minutes before the vote was scheduled at the National Assembly, France’s lower house of parliament.

The retirement age has now been raised by two years to 64 in a pension reform that is the flagship legislation of Macron’s second term. The unpopular plan has prompted major strikes and protests across the country since January.

The move is expected to trigger a quick no-confidence motion in Macron’s government.

The announcement came hours after the Senate, France’s upper house, adopted the bill Thursday morning in a 193-114 vote, a tally that was largely expected since the conservative majority of the upper house of parliament favours a higher retirement age.

But the government was unsure of the vote numbers in the National Assembly, forcing French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne to announce the triggering of Article 49.3.    Resorting to the measure is likely to further enrage unions, protesters and left-wing opposition parties that say the pension overhaul is unfair and unnecessary. “This government is not worthy of our Fifth Republic, of French democracy. Until the very end, parliament has been ridiculed, humiliated,” Fabien Roussel, head of the French Communist Party said.

Macron has promoted the pension changes as central to his vision for making the French economy more competitive.