Macron announces pension reforms to go into full effect in fall

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
17 Apr 2023 23:38

French President Emmanuel Macron states that the pension reforms will go into full force in fall 2023 which will raise the minimum age of retirement from 62 to 64.

A person bangs pots and pans while French President Emmanuel Macron seeks to diffuse tensions in a televised address to the nation, in Lyon, central France, Monday, April 17, 2023 (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

French President Emmanual Macron affirmed that the new pension reforms will come into full effect in fall 2023, as announced in a televised address to the French nation on Monday.

"As you know, the Constitutional Council on Friday recognized the pension reform as legitimate. Of course, I immediately promulgated this law. The pension reform will come into force in autumn," Marcon said in his address.

He justified the move by stating that "Gradually working more is also producing more wealth for our whole country."

Macron signed the legislation early Saturday, just hours after the banner change to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 had been validated by the constitutional court, prompting accusations he was smuggling the law through in the dead of night.

The Constitutional Council rejected six minor proposals, including forcing large corporations to publish how many over 55-year-olds they employ and the creation of special contracts for older workers. While the most highly resisted proposal of raising the retirement age by 2 years was approved, the new law would fully raise the age of retirement in France by 2030.

Polls have consistently shown that a majority of French remain opposed to the reform, which the government forced through parliament using a controversial mechanism allowing it to be passed without a vote.

Two out of three French citizens are opposed to the new legislation while Macron is still dismissing the popular resistance to his policy.

Unions hope that Labor Day on May 1 will produce a "popular and historic tidal wave" of people on the streets to oppose the President's decision.