Today, France faces more strikes and action, contesting president Macron’s latest moves to increase the pension age.
The French government forced through pension reforms raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 without a vote.
The controversial reforms had been passed by France’s Senate, the country’s upper house, prior to prime minister Elisabeth Borne invoking article 49:3 of the constitution minutes before the National Assembly was due to decide on the plans. Article 49:3 allows the government to avoid a vote.
Emmanuel Macron was re-elected president last year on a manifesto of retirement reforms, but his ruling coalition has no majority in the assembly and the proposals would have needed support from the Republican party. He argues that reform of the pension system is necessary in response to a projected annual deficit of €10bn each year between 2022 and 2032.
The manoeuvre provoked further anger across France, which has seen widespread strikes and protest marches over the reforms in recent weeks.
