Pension reform debate

French lawmakers yesterday started debating President Emmanuel Macron’s divisive plan to overhaul the pensions system, expected to be a several-month-long, fierce parliamentary debate. The final vote, after the legislative process through the National Assembly and the Senate, is not expected before summer. Changing and streamlining the retirement system is a priority for Macron and has been met with anger in recent months from unions. A call for a metro strike yesterday was largely ignored. Several hundred protesters marched in Paris streets yesterday, heading towards the National Assembly amid a high police presence.