Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Chaos erupts in French parliament as Macron bypasses vote and forces through controversial pensions bill

Chaos erupts in French parliament as Macron bypasses vote and forces through controversial pensions bill

The president angered left-wing politicians after invoking special constitutional powers to pass the pensions bill, which he said is needed to ensure the system does not go bust.

There have been rare chaotic scenes in the French parliament as President Emmanuel Macron used special powers to push through an unpopular pensions bill which aims to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Boos and chants from opposition politicians were heard in the national assembly (the lower house) as left-wing MPs sung lines from the national anthem in reaction to the news that the legislation could pass without the need for a vote.

The move by the government has also sparked fierce reaction by the public. Around 7,000 people demonstrated against the proposed pension changes in an unplanned rally on the Place de la Concorde in Paris - across the river Seine from the assembly.


Police used tear gas as protesters gathered in Paris


Police fired tear gas and used a water cannon to disperse protesters, while officers who charged groups of demonstrators had cobble stones thrown at them, according to a Reuters reporter.

One police officer was helped by colleagues after appearing to be injured and falling to the ground.

The decision to invoke the special power - article 49.3 - was made during a cabinet meeting at the presidential palace, just minutes before the scheduled vote, as Mr Macron had no guarantee of securing a majority in the assembly.


He argued the reforms were essential to ensure the pension system does not go bust, as the age and life expectancy of the population increases.

But the move is expected to trigger motions of no-confidence in his government.

Earlier on Thursday, the senate (upper house) adopted the bill by 193 votes to 114, a tally that was largely expected since the conservative majority there backs the reforms.

As the prime minister, Elisabeth Borne, tried to formally announce the special procedure in the assembly, some left-wing politicians held up placards reading "no to 64 years", while far-right leader Marine Le Pen called for her to resign.

Other opposition politicians emerged from parliament to demand the government steps down.

The disruption led to the speaker briefly delaying the parliamentary session to try and restore order.



Students in Paris shout slogans during a protest against the government's plan to raise the retirement age to 64.


The move was called "a spectacular failure" by Jean-Luc Melenchon, the leader of left-wing party France Insoumise (France Unbowed).

"This bill has no parliamentary legitimacy, no legitimacy from the street," he said at a protest outside parliament.

Opinion polls show a vast majority of voters oppose the pension reforms, as do trade unions, who argue that there are other ways to balance the pension system account.

Socialist Party leader, Olivier Faure, earlier said the bill could unleash "uncontrollable anger" following weeks of rolling strikes and protests that have affected power production, blocked some shipments from refineries, and seen litter pile up on Paris streets.

Uncollected litter in Paris


For a no-confidence motion to be adopted, it needs to be approved by at least half the seats in the lower house - that is currently 287.

If such a motion was successful, the government would have to resign.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
A monster hit and a billion-dollar toy empire
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
Canada: Nurse Suspended and Fined 93 Thousand Dollars After Stating the World’s Most Well-Known Fact Since the Creation of Adam and Eve, That There Are Only Two Genders
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
U.S. Treasury Secretary Whitney Bessent Backs Stablecoins to Boost Treasury Demand
Spain to Declare Disaster Zones After Massive Wildfires
Three-Minute Battery Swap Touted as Future of EVs
Beijing Military Parade to Showcase Weapons Advances
U.S. Tech Stocks Slide on AI Boom Concerns
White House Confirms Talks Over Intel Stake
Trump Suggests U.S. Could Support Ukraine ‘By Air’
Trump Called Viktor Orbán: "Why Are You Using the Veto"
Horror in the Skies: Plane Engine Exploded, Passengers Sent Farewell Messages
AI in Policing: Draft One Helps Speed Up Reports but Raises Legal and Ethical Concerns
Shame in Norway: Crown Princess’s Son Accused of Four Rapes
Apple Begins Simultaneous iPhone 17 Production in India and China
A Robot to Give Birth: The Chinese Announcement That Shakes the World
Finnish MP Dies by Suicide in Parliament Building
Outrage in the Tennis World After Jannik Sinner’s Withdrawal Storm
Class Action Lawsuit Against Volkswagen: Steering Wheel Switches Cause Accidents
UK Government Tries to Sue 4chan for Breaching Online Safety Act
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Cambridge Dictionary Adds 'Skibidi,' 'Delulu,' and 'Tradwife' Amid Surge of Online Slang
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
The CEO Who Replaced 80% of Employees for the AI Revolution: "I Would Do It Again"
"Every Centimeter of Your Body Is a Masterpiece": The Shocking Meta Document Revealed
Character.ai Bets on Future of AI Companionship
China Ramps Up Tax Crackdown on Overseas Investments
Japanese Office Furniture Maker Expands into Bomb Shelter Market
Intel Shares Surge on Possible U.S. Government Investment
Hurricane Erin Threatens U.S. East Coast with Dangerous Surf
EU Blocks Trade Statement Over Digital Rule Dispute
EU Sends Record Aid as Spain Battles Wildfires
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
China Requires Data Centres to Source Majority of AI Chips Locally, For Technological Sovereignty
Escalating Clashes in Serbia as Anti-Government Protests Spread Nationwide
Category 5 Hurricane in the Caribbean: 'Catastrophic Storm' with Winds of 255 km/h
Trump Backs Putin’s Land-for-Peace Proposal Amid Kyiv’s Rejection
Digital Humans Move Beyond Sci-Fi: From Virtual DJs to AI Customer Agents
YouTube will start using AI to guess your age. If it’s wrong, you’ll have to prove it
Jellyfish Swarm Triggers Shutdown at Gravelines Nuclear Power Station in Northern France
OpenAI’s ‘PhD-Level’ ChatGPT 5 Stumbles, Struggles to Even Label a Map
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
×