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The pension reform of Emmanuel Macron is voted in France today: protesters take to the streets again

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The wrist inside France around a bill that would have raised the retirement age from 62 to 64, neared its climax this Thursday, either with a parliamentary vote in the National Assembly or a special presidential initiative, protected by the Constitution, to enforce their approval.

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The Senate already approved the law Thursday morning with 193 votes in favor and 114 against, an expected result because the conservative majority in the upper house supports raising the retirement age. The text now passes to the lower house, the National Assembly, where the perspective it is more uncertain.

President Emmanuel Macron had a morning meeting with some leaders of his centrist alliance to address the complex political situation in the National Assembly. He was to join them again at noon.

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Union leaders speak to the media in Paris.  Photo: AFP

Union leaders speak to the media in Paris. Photo: AFP

Macron’s alliance lost the majority in last year’s legislative elections, so the government needed the votes of the Conservatives to pass the measure. legislators of opposite left and far right firmly on the floor and the conservatives were divided, making the outcome unpredictable.

The French leader wants to raise the retirement age so that workers contribute more money to the pension system, which according to the government is about to enter a deficit. If you don’t get a parliamentary majority vote, has constitutional authority unilaterally impose unpopular changes.

Macron defended the pension changes like crucial for his vision of a French economy more competitive. Unions maintained their combative stance on Wednesday and called on lawmakers to vote against it, denouncing the government’s legal shortcuts to passing the law as a “denial of democracy”.

Nearly 500,000 people protested across the country on Wednesday. Students were to march this Thursday to the lower house of parliament, while garbage collectors they went on strike who piled up garbage in the French capital.

A mountain of garbage on the streets of Paris, with the Eiffel Tower in the background.  Photo: Christophe Archambault / AFP

A mountain of garbage on the streets of Paris, with the Eiffel Tower in the background. Photo: Christophe Archambault / AFP

Macron “wants” to see the reform approved by the National Assembly, his office said after a strategy session on Wednesday evening with Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and the ministers in charge of the proposal at the Elysee presidential palace. But no final decision has been made and the government was expected to continue talks on Thursday morning.

Labor Minister Olivier Dussopt said after the Senate vote that the government still no guarantee that the text approved on Wednesday by a reconciliation committee could obtain a majority of votes in the lower house.

“We are determined to do it build that majority“, he said. “This is our job, our commitment for the next few hours.”

Nearly 500,000 people protested across the country on Wednesday.  Photo: Reuters

Nearly 500,000 people protested across the country on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Even if an approval in the National Assembly it would give more legitimacy to the planMacron could avoid the risk of rejection and use his special constitutional power to pass a law without a parliamentary vote.

The economic challenges have sparked widespread discontent in Western Europe.

In Britain, young medical teachers and public transport staff they went on strike on Wednesday demand wage increases that continue the pace of price increases.

And Spain’s left-wing government has reached an agreement with unions to be announced a historic affair. save the pension system by raising the social security contributions of those who earn the most.

Associated press

Source: Clarin

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