2023 French pension reform protests

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Publication Date 2023
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Summary:

Major strikes began on 19 January 2023 in response to the French Government's announced pension reform bill. Eight of France's largest unions launched strike action over the reforms. Protests against the bill were held across the country, with millions of people participating in demonstrations. The impacts of the strike have been widespread and have affected various sectors including the aviation industry, waste collection, tourism, and oil refineries.

Further Information:

In January 2023 the French Government, led by president Emmanuel Marco, introduced a pension reform bill which increases the legal retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030, beginning 1 September 2023. On Thursday 19 January an estimated 1.12 people took to the streets across cities and town in France to protest the reforms.

On 16 March, French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne invoked article 49:3 of the constitution minutes before the reform bill was to be voted on, allowing the reforms to be enacted without a parliamentary vote. This led to two no-confidence motions being filed against the government, both of which were unsuccessful.

On 14 April the Constitutional Council voted to approve the key proposals of Macron's pension reform. In response, union leaders called for another round of mass protests on 1 May.

 

Related Links
Commentary and Analysis
France24: Tag: Pension Reform https://www.france24.com/en/tag/pension-reform/
EuroNews, 7/4/2023: Why are French workers angry about raising retirement age? https://www.euronews.com/2023/04/07/why-are-french-workers-angry-about-raising-retirement-age
France24, 13/4/2023: Three possible scenarios as French court prepares to rule on constitutionality of pension reform https://www.france24.com/en/france/20230413-three-possible-scenarios-as-french-court-prepares-to-rule-on-constitutionality-of-pension-reform
The Guardian, 16/4/2023: The Guardian view on Macron’s pension reform: legal but harmful https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/16/the-guardian-view-on-macrons-pension-reform-legal-but-harmful

News
EurActiv, 11/1/2023: French pension reform set to test government stability https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/french-to-up-retirement-age-to-test-government-stability/
BBC News, 16/3/2023: France's Macron to force through pension reform with no vote https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64967516
CNN, 23/3/2023: French airports, schools and oil refineries hit by national strike over pension age increase https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/23/business/france-national-strike-pension-reform/index.html
EuroNews, 26/3/2023: French pension reform: outrage in Paris post no-confidence votes https://www.euronews.com/2023/03/21/french-pension-reform-outrage-in-paris-post-no-confidence-votes
Reuters, 29/3/2023: Nearly three weeks of strikes continue to hit French refining https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/nearly-three-weeks-strikes-continue-hit-french-refining-2023-03-27/
Politico, 5/4/2023: France faces fresh strikes after failed talks with unions https://www.politico.eu/article/france-emmanuel-macron-faces-fresh-strikes-after-failed-talks-with-unions/
EurActiv, 6/4/2023: French PM won’t back down on pension reform despite union objection https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/french-pm-wont-back-down-on-pension-reform-despite-union-objection/
The Local, 6/4/2023: French unions announce new day of strikes and protests https://www.thelocal.fr/20230406/french-unions-set-to-announce-new-day-of-strikes-and-protests
Associated Press, 13/4/2023: New protests in France over Macron plan to raise pension age https://apnews.com/article/france-pension-protests-garbage-28f2090ae042ce5f53cbfa608459d006
Le Monde, 14/4/2023: French pension reform: Constitutional Council approves core of bill, rejects referendum request https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2023/04/14/french-pension-reform-constitutional-council-approves-most-of-bill-rejects-referendum-request_6022962_7.html

Wikipedia: 2023 French pension reform strikes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_French_pension_reform_strikes

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