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A feeling of déjà-vu pervaded the French capital on Monday as hundreds of thousands of protesters unfurled their posters nationwide and strikes paralysed public transport in opposition to the government’s announced pension reform. The proposed changes are a cornerstone of Macron’s reform agenda but are also a high-stakes test of his reputation as a reformer. The proposed pension changes remain taboo at a time when many French households are struggling with inflation and rising energy prices.
In 2019, during his first term, President Emmanuel Macron tried to overhaul France’s pension system, provoking widespread opposition in the streets, but the government had to postpone its plans when the Covid-19 pandemic hit.
Now, the government intends to forge ahead with a plan to raise the legal age of retirement from 62 to 64 even though recent opinion polls have shown that over two-thirds of French people oppose his proposals. Macron and his Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne will also face resistance from the National Assembly. Possibly the most virulent source of opposition has come from powerful unions like the CGT and CFDT, which are against raising the age of retirement.
By raising the retirement age by two years most workers would need to work 43 years, rather than 42, to be eligible to receive social security.
Why is pension reform a test of the government’s legitimacy?
The brewing battle will be a test for Macron who has staked his presidency — and the legitimacy of his government — on successfully delivering reforms. Macron won his second term in office by a small margin in April 2022, winning 18.7 million votes against Marine Le Pen, who had 13.2 million. Nevertheless, voters of the left refuse to see their vote for Macron as approval for his political programme. For them, Macron was elected as president…
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