Although deeply unpopular, Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform is right for France
that is unlikely to dissipate. The immediate political crisis for President Emmanuel Macron may be over, but popular unrest could yet spread.
This ought to mean that Elisabeth Borne, the prime minister, and her team can turn the page and move on. The pension reform still has to secure approval from the constitutional council, the country’s highest court. But it has now gone through parliament. Mr Macron judged last week that he would not get the votes to pass the reform in the lower house with a regular vote, so he used a constitutional provision known as article 49.3 to push it through without one.
The president’s decision to resort to article 49.3 has enraged people further. Fully 78% told a poll that they were against the use of this tool. The opposition sees it as an anti-democratic abuse of power. Ahead of the vote Charles de Courson, who led the cross-party motion of no-confidence, called the use of article 49.3 a “denial of democracy”. Protesters have gathered in Paris and other cities after dark, some setting fire to bins of stinking, uncollected rubbish.
Moreover, his use of article 49.3 is unusual, but not unique. Designed to strengthen the hand of government, the article was written into the constitution of the Fifth Republic by Charles de Gaulle as a response to the instability of the Fourth. De Gaulle himself used it in 1960 to launch France’s nuclear-deterrence programme. Since then it has been used 100 times, by governments on the left and the right, Ms Borne’s included.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Emmanuel Macron seeks to calm public anger over French pensions reform\n\t\t\tGet local insights from Lisbon to Moscow with an unrivalled network of journalists across Europe,\n\t\t\texpert analysis, our dedicated ‘Brussels Briefing’ newsletter. Customise your myFT page to track\n\t\t\tthe countries of your choice.\n\t\t
Read more »
Indian state cuts internet for 27 million to find separatistDigital rights org criticizes use of fill-in-the-blank template used to quell separatist protests
Read more »
King faces being greeted with 'good old general strike' in historic first state visit to France as monarchKing Charles faces being hit greeted with a 'good old general strike' in his state visit to France, as its streets descend into chaos amid angry protests.
Read more »
Hydropower Plant At Center Of National Security Controversy In Georgia | OilPrice.comGeorgia's Namakhvani hydropower plant project has faced controversy, with Western-funded NGOs accused of aiding Russia-sponsored protests against it.
Read more »
Lavish banquet to be attended by King Charles and Macron moved over fears of violenceA lavish banquet that was due to be attended by King Charles and Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles is to be moved following threats of violence.
Read more »
Seal shares adorable photo of 'my boy' that gets fans talkingSeal is a doting father to the four children he shares with Heidi Klum four children, and during the week he had a special tribute to his 'boy' – although it wasn't as it seemed
Read more »