Emmanuel Macron chose this Thursday to adopt the pension reform in France with a special power without the vote of the deputiessources close to the Executive announced, alluding to the presidential ability to use a constitutional remedy to approve the controversial law.
The decision was made minutes before the scheduled vote, because the government had not obtained the approval of the National Assembly, the lower house of the French parliament.
The wrist inside France around a bill that would raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, which culminated this Thursday, either with a parliamentary vote in the National Assembly or with a special presidential initiative, protected by the Constitution, to enforce their approval. Apparently it is this option that has prevailed.
It was known that if the ruling party did not obtain a majority to adopt the text, could resort to article 49.3 of the French Constitutionwhich allows its adoption without a vote.
But the appeal to this article will be a failure for Macron. not having obtained parliamentary passage.
The risks of a “decree”
An appeal to 49.3 could in turn exacerbate the protest movement in the streets. If Macron resorts to this mechanism, tHe is also exposed to a motion of censure, according to some opposition MPs, another thing is that it can flourish.
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 passed this Thursday to the lower house, the National Assembly, where the perspective it was more uncertain.
Macron had a meeting in the morning 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.
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.
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.”
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
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.