President Emmanuel Macron bypassed parliament to pass the controversial legislation. Prior to the bill’s passage, almost half a million people protested in cities across France on Wednesday, according to figures from the Interior Ministry. The country has been struck by widespread protests amid plans to change pension legislation.
The French patriotic National Rally party said on Thursday that it intends to file a no-confidence motion against the government, after President Emmanuel Macron opted to push through controversial pension reform without a parliamentary vote.
The French president forced his controversial pension reform bill through without a full vote in parliament
French President Emmanuel Macron bypassed parliament and enacted a controversial pension reform package on Thursday, triggering riots and arson on the streets of Paris. The move, which raises France’s retirement age to 64, had already caused months of strikes and protests.
Macron invoked a special constitutional power to pass the bill, immediately before a vote was set to take place. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne announced the decision in the National Assembly, as opposition lawmakers booed, jeered, and sang.
Under the power invoked by Macron and Borne, the bill is considered passed unless a majority of lawmakers file a motion of no confidence against the government in the next 24 hours. Right-wing leader Marine Le Pen said that her National Rally party would back such a motion, as did a number of leftist leaders.
Macron has argued for months that France’s pension system will go bankrupt unless citizens pump more money into the system. Raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 – which would still see French workers retire earlier than most of their European counterparts – would be a “just and responsible” way to achieve this, he said in January.
France’s trade unions – who have protested the reforms since last year – have argued that the system should instead be buoyed by increasing taxes on the wealthy.
Thousands of protesters gathered in Paris as Macron’s bill was passed. Near parliament buildings, police fired tear gas at the demonstrators and faced off against the crowd in lines.
Il est 19h50 sur la place de la Concorde où les forces de l’ordre ont tiré des lacrymos et utilisé le canon à eau pour disperser les manifestants. #ReformeDesRetraites pic.twitter.com/tAZLR22mBu
— Pierre Bouvier (@pibzedog) March 16, 2023
Rioters set fires and blocked roads throughout the French capital, as groups of masked protesters clashed with riot police.
Les poubelles cumulées suite à la grève des éboueurs servent de barricades et sont enflammées
— QG le média libre (@LibreQg) March 16, 2023
Images @LucAuffret pour @LibreQg pic.twitter.com/WPEu0Lr1Kw
🇫🇷 FLASH – De nombreuses barricades sont en feu à #Paris. Les incidents se propagent dans les rues de la capitale. Des manifestants tentent d’approcher l’#Élysée. (via @LibreQg) #greve16mars #revolution pic.twitter.com/65KZRMkAO9
— Mediavenir (@Mediavenir) March 16, 2023
Prior to the bill’s passage, almost half a million people protested in cities across France on Wednesday, according to figures from the Interior Ministry. Police have already made 73 arrests in the capital, Le Figaro reported, citing a police source.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday used a special power to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 without a vote.
Macron shunned Parliament and invoked a constitutional power to impose a bill that has sparked protests across France.
Fiery riots erupted in Paris on Thursday.
Garbage cans are on fire near the Champs-Élysées.
WATCH:
Les poubelles continuent d'être incendiées dans les rues près des Champs-Élysées #ReformesDesRetraites pic.twitter.com/AdvOuS1rbp
— QG le média libre (@LibreQg) March 16, 2023
Additional footage:
Retour de flamme dans la capitale
Après l’évacuation de la place de la Concorde à #paris, les poubelles s’enflamment dans les beaux quartiers parisiens à proximité de Madeleine.#ReformesDesRetraites #antireport pic.twitter.com/fcoE5QzjYd
— Cerveaux non disponibles (@CerveauxNon) March 16, 2023
Law enforcement in riot gear tried to disperse the protestors.
France’s Prime Minister has been urged to step down by opposition leader Marine Le Pen amid unpopular pension-reform plans.
The reform, which would see France change its retirement age to 64 from 62 and which would require workers to contribute to the system for 43 years before receiving a full pension, has proven deeply unpopular, and has triggered weeks of protests and strikes across the country.
The legislation passed the French upper house on Thursday but, faced with potentially not securing enough votes in the lower chamber, the government opted to trigger a constitutional procedure which enables the passing of legislation without a vote.
The move is a “total failure” for Macron’s government, Le Pen said. The former presidential candidate added that the actions of Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, who triggered the constitutional framework, are “a slap in the face of democracy.”
“I have always said that if the pension reform is adopted … she can no longer stay in the Matignon,” Le Pen insisted, referring to the Prime Minister’s residence.
Rival lawmakers in France’s lower house jeered Borne when the decision was announced on Thursday, with some MPs attempting to drown her out by singing the French national anthem. The move automatically grants the opposition the right to call a confidence vote, and risks further inflaming tensions after weeks of public protest.
Macron had campaigned heavily on introducing pension reform ahead of France going to the polls last April, arguing that changes would make the country’s economy more competitive.
However, protests ramped up ahead of the final votes on the planned changes – with refuse collectors going on strike in Paris and some rail services being canceled. It was estimated that around 500,000 protested against the bill across France on Wednesday.