France officially adopts controversial pension reform plan

By Nur Asena Erturk

ANKARA (AA) — French lawmakers rejected no-confidence motions against the government on Monday, leading to the adoption of a controversial pension reform plan.

Parties opposing the government's reform scheme submitted two censure motions last week after President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne decided to use their constitutional powers to force through the controversial plan.

Last week, independent group Liot and the National Rally (RN) party submitted two censure motions, which require the support of an absolute majority in parliament — 287 votes — to be adopted.

The rejection of the censure motions meant that the government stays in place and the draft bill adopted.

Macron and Borne recently held a meeting after the Senate adopted the final version of the draft bill before it was submitted to a parliamentary vote.

They decided to invoke Article 49.3 of the Constitution, a mechanism that lets the government adopt the draft bill without parliamentary approval.

The decision was driven by fear that lawmakers would be able to block the reforms as the government does not hold an absolute majority in the legislature.

Opposing parties then submitted no-confidence motions in parliament, while the protests were held and ongoing strikes extended in many sectors, including oil refineries and public transportation, against the move.

The government revealed the reform project in January and parliament started examining and debating the draft bill the following month.

Workers and trade unions have since expressed growing outrage by holding demonstrations and walkouts.

The reform project includes raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 in 2030, requiring at least 43 years of work to be eligible for a full pension.