Top French court backs unpopular plans to raise retirement age to 64

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Fri Apr 14, 2023, 07:37 PM - Edit history (2)

Source: CNN

France’s top court on Friday approved the government’s unpopular plans to raise the age of retirement by two years to 64, a huge win for President Emmanuel Macron in the face of mass protests across the country. The Constitutional Council – akin to the US Supreme Court – struck down some elements of the new law, but the most controversial element remains: the gradual upping of the retirement age.

Pension reform in France, where the right to retire on a full pension at 62 is deeply cherished, is always a highly sensitive issue and even more so in recent months with social discontent mounting over the surging cost of living. Sweeping protests have paralyzed major services across France year this year over Macron’s proposed changes to the pension system. There have been violent clashes between police and demonstrators.

The final approval of the pension reforms – which followed seven hours of debate within the nine-member Council – is a victory for Macron one year into his second presidential term, but the unpopularity of the new law has come at a great political cost with his approval ratings at near-record low levels.

As part of the ruling, the Constitutional Council also refused a first request by opposition lawmakers to hold a referendum on the reform. A last-minute second request put forward Thursday to hold a referendum on the reform remains under consideration.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/14/europe/france-retirement-protests-macron-court-intl/index.html

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Article updated.

Previous article -

France's top court on Friday approved the government's unpopular plans to raise the age of retirement by two years to 64, a huge win for President Emmanuel Macron in the face of mass protests across the country.

Pension reform in France, where the right to retire on a full pension at 62 is deeply cherished, is always a highly sensitive issue and even more so in recent months with social discontent mounting over the surging cost of living.

Sweeping protests have paralyzed major services across France year this year over Macron's proposed changes to the pension system. There have been violent clashes between police and demonstrators.

As part of the ruling, the Constitutional Council - similar to the US Supreme Court - also refused a first request by opposition lawmakers to hold a referendum on the reform. A last-minute second request put forward Thursday to hold a referendum on the reform remains under consideration.

Original article -

CNN -- France's top court on Friday approved the government's unpopular plans to raise the age of retirement, in a huge win for President Emmanuel Macron in the face of mass protests across the country.

This is a developing story. More to follow.

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Sacre Bleu!!!

le capitalisme l'emporte sur la liberté

[jimfields33]

2. Wouldn't working two additional years add to their monthly check?

We retire at 67. Yuk!!!!!

[TheRickles]

3. Hard to see why this is a matter for the courts to decide.

Anyone know why/how it's so different in France, judicial vs. legislative vs. executive?

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Their "Executive" branch leader is selected by the majority party (or coalition) in their Parliament

vs the U.S., where voters select the head of the Executive branch independent of the Legislative branch.

I think he even survived at least one "no confidence" vote too.

So in an odd way (or actually in the way much of the world's governments operate), they really only have 2 independent "branches" - "Legislative/Executive" and "Judicial".

[TheRickles]

5. Thanks, but I don't see why the judiciary should have oversight over what seems like

a technical legislative/executive issue. Whether pensions should start at 62 or 64 doesn't seem like a question for judicial review. If Macron can override the Parliament by decree or Executive Order, so be it. But I still don't see how the courts could be involved (and I say this as someone who knows absolutely nothing about the French form of government!).

[BumRushDaShow]

6. I did a quick search and found this -

Can France’s constitutional body halt disputed pension bill?

By SYLVIE CORBET
today

(snip)

WHAT’S THE CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL?

The body’s role is to make sure a law is in line with France’s Constitution prior to enactment.

In this case, it comes after Macron’s centrist government forced the pension bill through parliament without a vote, using a special constitutional power.

The council is currently composed of three women and six men aged between 64 and 77, and is headed by former Socialist Prime Minister Laurent Fabius. Most members are centrists and conservatives, including two named by Macron. The council’s discussions and votes are not made public.

(snip)

https://apnews.com/article/france-pension-protests-constitutional-council-ruling-0e2cf6406c1d49dc5effc26e855af192

So apparently that "court" looks at probably any piece of legislation passed and referred to them and checks to make sure that it does not violate the Constitution. Technically our SCOTUS does that too.

They can apparently strike parts that might not meet Constitutional muster. Haven't delved into whether this court did so with this retirement legislation after approving the age-change piece, as it was apparently part of a large budget bill too and the above-linked AP article brought up some possibilities... The other issue was a request to bring this up for a referendum and this court could decide on that issue too (although the process is drawn out), and so far hadn't ruled that possible approval out yet.