France, pension reform without vote and revolt explodes in the streets

On pension reform, the cornerstone of his election campaign, French President Emmanuel Macron decided to force his hand. Faced with the uncertainty of having the numbers for the approval of the text, which provides for the increase in the retirement age from 62 to 64 years, the government chaired by Elisabeth Borne activated paragraph 3 of article 49 of the Constitution before the National Assembly which makes it possible to approve the reform without the vote of Parliament. Borne assumed “responsibility” for the choice, but protests were triggered in the Chamber with opposition deputies who booed the prime minister noisily and sang the Marseillaise.

After losing his parliamentary majority in the National Assembly last year, President Macron has therefore failed to secure the support of Republicans needed to pass the reform. To scare off the “snipers”. A scenario that, after several meetings held during the night and in the morning, effectively made the government choose to bypass the Chamber as the only way.

Resorting to paragraph 3 of article 49 “became mandatory in view of the inconsistency and irresponsibility of the republican deputies who got involved with the French”, declared the deputies of the Renaissance, Macron’s group. Oppositions, both left and right, are up in arms. According to the leader of the National Front, Marine Le Pen, what happened in the Chamber is “the recognition of the total failure of Emmanuel Macron”, while for the leader of the left Jean-Luc Melenchon the president “passed over the heads of the French” .

Based on the provisions of French law, the reform is currently adopted ‘de facto’, unless a no-confidence motion is passed. The oppositions, who have already announced the presentation, have 24 hours to file it, that is, until 3:20 pm on Friday. We need 56 signatories. Once filed, or filed, as presumably there will be more than one as announced by the opposition parties, the motions will have to be considered by the National Assembly within 48 hours. Voting can therefore take place between Saturday and Monday, depending on the decision the Group Leaders conference takes.

To pass, the motion must obtain at least half the votes of the National Assembly, or 287. In that case, the government headed by Elisabeth Borne would have to resign. It would be the first time since 1962. If that happened, Macron could nominate him again to form a new government or choose another prime minister or even dissolve the National Assembly. With the numbers in hand, the no-confidence motion is unlikely to pass, as Republicans, through party chairman Eric Ciotti, have said they “will not vote” on any motion. However, the same scenario that led the government to activate Article 49.3 to pass the reform may occur, since the “Republicans” may not be united.

The protests in the country add to the parliamentary battle, which has lasted for weeks. The unions have already announced “new mobilizations” against a government that “does not have a majority”. And soon after the vote, both in Paris, on the Place de la Concorde, and across the country, spontaneous demonstrations began.