Houston Chronicle

Macron risks his government to raise France’s retirement age

- By Sylvie Corbet and Elaine Ganley

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron ordered his prime minister to wield a special constituti­onal power on Thursday that skirts parliament to force through a highly unpopular bill raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 without a vote.

His calculated risk set off a clamor among lawmakers, who began singing the national anthem even before Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne arrived in the lower chamber. She spoke forcefully over their shouts, acknowledg­ing that Macron’s unilateral move will trigger quick motions of no-confidence in his government.

The fury of opposition lawmakers echoed the anger of citizens and workers’ unions. Thousands gathered at the Place de la Concorde facing the National Assembly, lighting a bonfire. As night fell, police charged against the demonstrat­ors in waves to clear the elegant Place, but hundreds remained nearly an hour later.

The unions that have organized strikes and marches since January, leaving Paris reeking

in piles of garbage, announced new rallies and marches in protest. “This retirement reform is brutal, unjust, unjustifie­d for the world of workers,” they declared.

Macron has made the proposed pension changes the key priority of his second term, arguing that reform is needed to keep the pension system from diving into deficit as France, like many richer nations, faces lower birth rates and longer life expectancy.

Macron decided to invoke the

special power during a Cabinet meeting at the Elysee presidenti­al palace, just a few minutes before the scheduled vote in France’s lower house of parliament, because he had no guarantee of a majority.

“Today, uncertaint­y looms” about whether a majority would have voted for the bill, Borne acknowledg­ed, but she said, “We cannot gamble on the future of our pensions. That reform is necessary.”

Borne prompted boos from the opposition when she said her government is accountabl­e to the parliament. Lawmakers can try to revoke the changes through no-confidence motions, she said.

“There will actually be a proper vote and therefore the parliament­ary democracy will have the last say,” Borne said.

Opposition lawmakers demanded the government step down. One Communist lawmaker called the presidenti­al power a political “guillotine.” Others called it a “denial of democracy” that signals Macron’s lack of legitimacy.

Marine Le Pen said her farright National Rally party would file a no-confidence motion, and Communist lawmaker Fabien Roussel said such a motion is “ready” on the left.

“The mobilizati­on will continue,” Roussel said. “This reform must be suspended.”

A no-confidence motion, now expected early next week, needs approval by more than half the Assembly. If it passes — which would be a first since 1962 — the government would have to resign. Macron could reappoint Borne if he chooses, and a new Cabinet would be named.

If no-confidence motions don’t succeed, the pension bill would be considered adopted.

 ?? Photos by Lewis Joly/Associated Press ?? Students shout slogans during a demonstrat­ion Thursday in Paris against the government’s plan to raise the retirement age to 64. France’s government invoked a special constituti­onal power to enact the contentiou­s pension bill without parliament.
Photos by Lewis Joly/Associated Press Students shout slogans during a demonstrat­ion Thursday in Paris against the government’s plan to raise the retirement age to 64. France’s government invoked a special constituti­onal power to enact the contentiou­s pension bill without parliament.
 ?? ?? Paris police stand guard at the Concorde square after a demonstrat­ion Thursday near the National Assembly.
Paris police stand guard at the Concorde square after a demonstrat­ion Thursday near the National Assembly.

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